Editor, thanks for the poets’ column!

I'm still here, a young man and no poet;

I carry the milkpail across the Orange,

clubs are at hand but I fight with lightning.

The night is deep before the dawn,

the roosters’ racket heralds dawn.

I'll come to the point directly, my people,

speak like a man about our condition,

confirm the truth, concealing nothing,

so we wield the shield of truth. 10

To discover the way things work

start at the begininng.

The night is deep before the dawn,

we chafe at the yoke as dawn approaches.

I've lost my thread—forget it.

The Sage declares it. Who did you ask?

Those passes provide your evidence,

witnessed by women in early hours.

The system's still soft, not fully effective:

you can escape if you keep to the shadows.

If only you people shared with each other

what you see of life in this land:

we just shuffle about saying nothing.

I'll take a stand. Snap out of your trance.

I say to you, handsome African,

calf that declines leftovers:

the roosters’ racket heralds dawn.

The apostles also spoke of the dawn.

This isn't gossip: I saw it myself.

What do the witnesses have to say?

Today persecution's spread to women.

Knowing nothing I'll offer advice.

Those who came by ship shouldn't fool themselves:

the Prince of Heaven's wide awake.

Speak out, Africa, while you have life:

if whites have a fit, well then let them die.

You're shackled today because of your country,

handed to you in the act of creation.

When the white appeared, all was normal:

abnormality came with his bible.

There was nothing slack in his preaching:

we saw we were totally routed.

But when he washed the clay from our bodies

our old men despaired, took their blankets and left.

We witnessed the fall of our kings, our foundations,

heard them groan as they shook their heads.

Ngqika himself broke away,

Christians, because of your bible.

So take a look, Africa, dawn's breaking.

The night is deep before the dawn.

The morning star has climbed the sky

with you bewildered by the future.

Agree!!