Kunini sibhala ingoma zoThando
Sitema langezibongo?
Siklabalala siphum’ izilakalaka
Sisitsho ngawe, Thando?
Thando wena umukhulu
Wasenza sathetha langeSilungu
Sathi, “Tswiriri-tswiriri Darling Chocolate,
Um’ungekho ngiba lesizungu.”
Lapho sibona abaphethwe nguwe
Begegedeka bebamben’ izandla
Siyabobotheka phinde sizw’umona
Inhliziyo zigobhoz’ indenda.
Bayethe, wena Thando!
Owagoqoz’ ingqondo zababili!
Uyesabeka, o, Thando!-
Ngiyaqhuqha, buye ngihawukele.
Kunini sibhala ingoma zothando
Sibika langas’ isibongo?
Kepha yithi laba
Esisaloba ngawe, Thando.
Inkondlo elotshwe ngu Anna T. Gowera
Translation….
Songs of Love
{English translation of “Ingoma Zothando”}
We’ve long been composing epistles of love
Sang out even in totem form!
Mouths wide open till epiglottides show,
Reciting our homage to love.
How great are you, Oh potent Love;
With power to make us speak in foreign tongue:
Sultry whispers of, “My Darling Chocolate,
When not with you I get real lonesome.”
Upon seeing some two engulfed by you,
Giggling about and holding hands,
Glee fills me hotly pursued by envy:
My heart transformed into a fountain of drool.
All hail to you oh mighty Love!
With mysterious skill to mash the minds of two…
Dear awesome and fearsome Love
I quake in terror and raging ache for you!
We’ve long been writing songs of love
In adages expressed in totem form
Alas here we are, here we still are;
Scribbling notes and pieces in awe of Love.
Mwana anonyora uyu, mhan!