In honour of women’s day, a poem about a mother by Zothani Msomi. From the womb; She would’ve thought it was a tomb …Ngoba ngabe ngithulise okwesdumbu. When she touched her belly, I’d move. After all, she is my mommy And I’d only want to improve her mood. To birth, I’d cry just … Read more
Woza wemvula, uzosichela we!Ngaw’ amacons’ abandayo qa!Siyawathanda thina bantwanyana!Umasidlala ugcabhayiyana!Co! co! Umoy’ uyasitshela!Ukuth’ asilindel’ um’ usuzofika!Co!co! Kugcwal’ imifula!Kugcwal’ izihoshana! Kukhal’ amaxoxo,Kukhal’ amabhengwana,Athi hhoyi! hhoyi!Mambeklez’ iph’ ingane yakho?Imuke nomful’ ifun’ amadiye khon’ esihosheni! Hhoyi! imvula yaze yasiyala ngoDudu Ithemba lethu ,Hhiya! Wo!Hhiya! Wo! English Summary This poem was popular with children in the old days when … Read more
Wemfaz’ ongaphesheyaUthi bhubhu yini na? Ngithi bhubh’ isidwabaIsidwaba yini na? Amanqamula fece, Amalal’edlubulongo Ashiyel’uSheshanaUSheshan’akanandabaIndab’ inofayoFiyo fayoNgathi ngiyahambaEnsimini kwenuNgabon’ impunziIdl’ amasiNgathi ngiyawacelaYath’ akusiw’ awayo awezalukaziEzidl’ ubuchopho benj’ endala nobencane. Summary In this poem two women are communicating. Each one is on the other side of the river but they can hear each other loud and clear.
Lomlolozelo wawusetshenziswa ngezikhathi zakudala uma abafana bebonakala sebeya emasimini amathole bewashiye ekhaya. Umuntu omdala owayebabuza ukuthi aphi amathole, nabafana baphendule ukuthi asekhaya asele nonina. Lokhu kwakuwumdlalo, ngoba phela kuyaziwa ukuthi amathole awayi emadlelweni. Udlalwa ngokuthi umuntu oyedwa abuze kuthi abanye baphendule ngokuthi ji eyi. Webafana Ji eyiAph’ amathole? Ji eyiAkonina Ji eyiAzodlani?Ji eyiUmngqushumbaJi eyiEwumbephi?Ji eyiEndlin’ … Read more
We Nomathemba, ushayw’ ubani? Yiyo lendoda! Ibiz’ izelapha Oh! Hhayi ngiyesaba! Gibela nant’ ihhashi Oh! Hhayi ngiyesaba! Ehl’ amathamb’ ebhek’ ezansi, Enyuk’ amathamb’ ebhek’ ephezulu! English Summary This poem is a dialogue between an elder woman and a young woman called Nomathemba who was found crying. When asked what was wrong she pointed at a … Read more
Umlolozelo oshiwo yizingane umazidlala zeneme Imilolozelo yezingane ivamise ukuba ishiwo izingane ezimbili noma amaqembu amabili esho ededelana. Yebuya hobhe! Uy’ uphetheni? Ngiya ngipheth’ inyama. Uya kuyosaphi? Ngiyakuyos’ endle. Ekhaya kunani? Ngesaba obaba. Baya kukwenzani? Baya kungephuca. Bakhohl’ udevu, Lomunt’ omdala Ngiyalwesaba, lunjengoboloba, Ehlez’ efusini Ethi maye, maye, Kazi ngoshonaphi, Ngoshona kubaba Emgungundlovu. Bangiph’ ucwephe, Lukhuhl’ … Read more