“Timbilili!” says the sleeper,

suddenly wakened.

“Timbilili!” says the marsh bird,

drenched in rain.

Hawulele! Mvabaza,

the blanket of Congress

has often been rolled up;

today it's unfurled again.

Mvabaza, I've long had my eye on you,

cow yielding dribbles of milk

lacking the strength

to reach the milksack.

Hawulele! Hule!

Abantu-Batho,

you thought you'd retain

the title of guardian.

Umteteli wa Bantu

saw right through you:

you're a sack without water

left to breed tadpoles.

Our people are spent,

urged over the edge,

lacking healers

to administer cures.

The woman poet joined you?

Where did we talk?

In that paper of yours

I'd be torn in the jaws of a lion.

I know you well, Mvabaza:

you shun the day,

prefering the moon

as travelling companion.

Reader, take note!

The woman poet joined you?

Mvabaza, plain Xhosa eludes you:

please reread my poem

on the split within Congress:

“Tramps’ ancestors

are no match for mine.”

Just what do you think

I meant by those words?

You tremble, Mvabaza, like jelly

served on a plate;

a Joburg Johnny-come-lately,

an overnight leader.

You're no leader, Mvabaza,

and you never will be,

all you can claim

is the status of shopkeeper.

Leave Reverend Maxeke alone:

It was God who founded that paper

seeing our people wasted,

urged over the edge.

When did you win

election to rule?

We still have our chiefs

established by God.

Mvabaza, you're blind

to God's creation,

wanting me woman poet

of your Abantu-Batho.

You brag that you brought

the woman poet from Peddie

to earn your bread

in Johannesburg!

That'll be the day!

We stumbled in starting.

We seek a ford.

Our people are wasted,

urged over the edge.

Hawuleleh! Huleh! From Jeppe

they urge us over the edge,

they egg on the troops

but stay home themselves.

How come these leaders

never get killed?

They send to their deaths

God's people and chiefs.

They're Bailey's agents.

In urging us over the edge

they're sinking Africa.

I chant this dancing

near my father's grave.

Hawuhule!