LICENCE TO WRITE

Today is the second day of December. During this season it’s not very rare to hear stories about people who’s been dumped by their lovers. In some cases, the lovers disappear without even saying where they are going. It is believed that people tend to run to people with better bonuses and they usually come back just after January 1 to ask for forgiveness. In the following poem, Dumisa Mpupha paints a picture of a disappointed man who’s been left by his lover for “greener pastures”. He says: “You dumped me, and went out with a taxi driver.”

WANDISHIY’ UNDIBONA (WAVUM’ UNOTEKSI)

Wandishiy’ undibona wavum’ unoteksi Wandishiy’ undibona wavum’ utsots’ asePitoli Wandishiy’undibona wavum’ ijoni lakwaZulu Wandishiy’undibona wavum’ inkwenkw’ aseRhawutini Wandishiy’undibona wavum’ umahlalela. Wandishiya.

Ndathi ndiyacenga-cenga, awavuma Ndathi ndiyadomboz’ awavuma Ndathi ndiyathandaza, ndatsho phantsi Ndathembisa ngololiwe, hayibo! De ndathembisa nangesiporo sakhe, Suka wandishiya

Kwathi kanti ndicenga-cenga nje Kwathi kanti ndidomboza nje Kwathi kanti ndithandaza nje Ndithembisa nje ndisenza konke Kanti nditheth’ ubuthuvi bentaka Kanti nditheth’ amathumb’ emfene Suka wandishiya

Ndikugqibel’ usith’ usindisiwe Ndikugqibel’ usith’ uginy’ uYesu Ndathi ndiyavuma

Suka ndakubona kooTom noGeri Suka ndakubon’ eziTarven, Wandishiya

Wandenyanya ndakunyanyisa Waxel’ intak’ engcotshileyo Emagqabin’ ezintyatyambeni Waman’ uhlala kweziphakamileyo Ndiqwanyile njalo ndikujongile Ethuthwin’ eluthulini mna ndahlala, Wandishiya

Uyabona mntan’ asemzini Apho phezulu zizakudl’ ezezulu Uze apha eluthulini Zinyuquz’ iimpethu Olu thuli ulonyanyayo Lulo oluza kungcwaba Ndim Bamjongile