LICENCE TO WRITE
Two weeks ago we published Ingcibi Yamakhwenkwe (the traditional surgeon) by SM Burns-Ncamashe as this is the beginning of the initiation season. The following poem, Ikhankatha Labakhwetha (traditional nurse for initiates) also published in 1961 by BurnsNcamashe “Ah! Zilimbola!” In this poem, he is describing the role and the qualities of the traditional nurse. This would be really helpful especially for parents to understand before they appoint a traditional nurse for their sons.
Lilunga lakucoceka Ngaphandle nangaphakathi, Likuthand' ukuzihlamba Izandla kwanentliziyo.
Nqwa nogqirha wakwamlungu; Ngokuqeqesheka kwalo, Nokukwazi ukugcina Izinto esifubeni.
Lingumntu ongenantaka Xa liphethe ubudoda. Nakoseletoshatosha Lisuka liginy' ilitye.
Limaka ngesandla salo Nqwa nogqirha wakwamlungu Libukhal' iliso lalo Lokubhaq' izonakalo.
Ukuzila yinto yalo, Liqeqeshekile kuko; Kwizikhanuko zenyama Lizilawula ngokwalo.
Amakhwenkw' aphantsi kwalo Liwalathisa umgaqo Ngokuqala liwuhambe, Ze lithi makalandele.
Ngokwasekuziphatheni Malunga nasentlalweni, Ligxininisa ngakumbi Ngokusingisel' etyhini.
Amacebo okuphila, Nezithethe zamaXhosa, Izimbo zasebuntwini, Lifundisa ngazo njalo.
Ukuthetha okuphantsi, Ukutheth' okunembeko, Ngelizwi elinendili Lifundisa ngako njalo.
Ukuthetha okuphandle, Okungenaqhinga kuko, Okusuka emxhelweni, Liqeqesha ngako futhi.
Ukuhlonipha kwasendle Okumiselw' abakhwetha, Likufundisa zisuka Kongenele ubudoda,
Ubuxoki nobusela, Nobugqwirha nobunyoka, Libunyemba kom' amathe Kwabakhankathelwa lilo.
Ukulwa, noxolelwano, Ukuchebana iinduma, Nokuncomana ngezintle, Ziimfundiso zalo ezo. Ukubus' ezinkosini Nokuzathuz' enkundleni: Ukulungis' ukuhlala, Zizifundo zalo ezo.
Ukuzimas' amakhaya Ngokunyamekel' iintsapho, Nokunyamekel' imfuyo, Ziinkuthazo zalo ezo.
Ukugcina abazali, Nokunyamezel' iinzima Ezichonga amadoda, Liyala kanye ngezo nto,
Ukuthobela umthetho, Owekhaya nowesizwe, Kude kuye kowelizwe, Soloko lishumayela.
Wonke umthetho ukulo Xa liphathisw' amakhwenkwe; Kojiswa ngeembono zalo Xa athembisa ngempilo.
Ukusebenzis' igunya Ngokufanelekileyo, Kwelichaphazela bona, Lingumzekelo wak' oko.
Lona nqwa kanye nengcibi Xa linikwe abafundi; Lizizekele ityala Ngokuhola kwelo butho.
Nokuba lifuz' oonina, Okanye ooninakhulu, Kungenjal’ ooninalume, Ngemikhw' emib' elo butho:
Loba nqongo zizithuko, Libe ngqombo zizigxeko, Libe mnyisha zizinyembo, Libe njengonukiweyo.
Ngenxa yezo zinto zonke Elibekw' ityala ngazo, Limbi lingade libhace Limke mpela kwelo lizwe.
Nants' indawo mayicace - Ofundisay' unetyala, Unetyala macal' onke, Nalapho angonanga nto.
Kubafundi unetyala Ngangomthamo wemfundiso, Kubazali unetyala Zakonakal' izimilo,
KuQamata unetyala Xa kungafundiswa ngaye, Xa kungabhekiswa kuye, Iimfanelw' ezizezakhe.
Aba bantu bakwaPhalo Bathandeka begxekeka; Bahle ngapha, babi ngapha, Boniwe yintwan' encinci:
Yokukholelw' ekubeni Isono sisengcibini, Kude kuy' ekhankatheni, Nendod' ethambis' ichitywa Bakufuzwa ngabantwana.
Zintokazi zezwe lethu Yanyisan' amas' amahle, Kubantwana bezwe lethu, Aze noQamat' abakhe.