The sky is anxious, and there is haste
in the land of the fields where the dream awakens.
Souls cry, echoes over restive valleys
where, in discomfort, the bones of forefathers wait.
The hearts of the yearning stir, as if to match
the rhythm of the rising sun, the fading moon.
There is a lifting within the aroused;
both the dead and the dreaming sense the air of life.
It is time to get up and walk in one advance;
to release the dream from its enslaved grave.
***
Arise my brothers, my sisters,
get up and walk – it’s the time of our awakening.
Africa has died its death;
our children know only its hunger and war.
The leaders have fattened themselves
off the poisoned minds of our weary souls.
We have no more to lose.
Get up and walk, my brothers, my sisters.
No longer can we live on the graves of those
sacrificed for this, our dream.
Get up, brothers and sisters,
let us no longer walk the life of yearning.
***
New leaders from within have risen.
They bring joy and happiness to the barren land.
Children, laugh with the sound of excitement -
a comfort to the graves of those that hear their voices.
There is life in the fields; there is freshness
flowing in the rivers, in veins of the earth.
***
Within the fold of her heart there is peace,
and serenity emanates from satisfied bellies.
There is stillness, now, within the graves,
for they are home - their blood is washed.
***
Surge et Ambula.
Surge et Ambula.
Our dream has become soul.
Life is in our walk.
Get up ...
********************************************
Isibhakabhaka sixhalabile kungxanyiwe
emabaleni aphamaphupho avuka khona.
Ubuntu bulilela ngasemilanjeni
apho kulele amathambo okhokho.
Intliziyo zithatha zibeka
ngathi kukuphuma kwelanga nokutshona kwenyanga
Kukho ukuphakanyiswa kwabalele ukufa;
namaphupho ngomoya wobomi.
Lixesha lokuvukuhambe;
ukhulula’maphupha alelukuthula.
***
Vukani bantakwethu, nodade
Lixesha lethu lokuqabuka.
I Afrika ife ukufa kwayo;
abantwana bazi indlala nemfazwe
Iinkokheli zizanelisile
ingqondo idiniwe bubuntu obungento
asinakulahla ngaphezu koku.
Vukani bantakwethu, nodade.
Asinakuhlala emangcwabeni
abo bancamayo ngamaphupha ethu.
Vukani bantakwethu nodade
Masingahambi ubomi beminqweno.
***
Iinkokheli ezintsha zivukile
zizisa ukonwaba kulomhlaba wendlala.
abantwana bahleka ngomdla
besonwabisa abalele ukuthula besiva lo mazwi.
kukho ubomi obutsha emabaleni
bulandela imilambo ngembobo zomhlaba.
***
Entliziyweni yakhe kukho uxolo,
nokuthula okuvela kwisisu esanaleyo.
Kkukho ukuthula emangcwabeni,
kuba besekhaya lihlanjiwe igazi labo
***
Surge et Ambula.
Surge et Ambula.
Iphupha lethu bubuntu.
Ubomi busekuhambeni kwethu
Vukani …
Author notes
This poem written in English has been translated by Mandisa Magwa into Xhosa, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. It has a lovely click-sound. Thank you Mandisa - I know this was a difficult task.
In a list
A contest entry
- Surge et Ambula [ get up and walk] by Peteskid.
1800 points, ended May 28, 8 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Congratulations!
I am so pleased to see a shiny trophy on this excellent work. Well done. Very very well done. YAY! ~Pamela
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I cannot even begin to pick out any favorite lines as I was so completely captivated with this amazing work. It simply owns life - it has its own voice and breathes of truth.
Brilliant. ~Pamela
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Brilliant!!!
This is a gem of a masterpiece!!! Best of luck in this contest, you've written another winner!!! Peace, Cyn
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There is excitement in your words, as they exhort to get up. There are many failures and losses, there have been disgraceful actions, but the poem reminds me of June Callwood's words: "there is no excuse to remain in a heap at the bottom of the stairs". As you say, "There is life in the fields". Hope is key. Well done, a stirring poem!
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A Biblical Phrase
with a poem following this title with all the power, rhythm and texture of 1611 scripture in more modern terms.
The whole is greater than the parts and this is a wonderful phenomenon, poet-friend. I certainly agree with all Myra has said.
This poem must be anthologised somewhere by someone!
Poems must come from heart and intellect and this is very true here. Much of it reminds me of the better poetic prose of Alan Paton.
Thank you, Frans, for pointing me here.
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Powerful, Energizing, Superb!
Frans, this is truly one of your most amazing pieces ... I loved the rationale in here ... and yes, also the endopathy. Your words become a living stream, strong in its predestined pathway to the ocean of Origin ...:
Arise my brothers and sisters,
get up and walk – it’s the time of our awakening.
The repetition surged as a chant, a flow in this strong force of empowerment, a reassurance of that known from the Beginning:
Our dream has become soul.
Life is in our walk.
Get up ...
Rejuvenated, I feel part of Africa. And of the world-wide dream -- freedom of soul.
Wondrous work, GOLD HERE.
Love
Myra
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"The hearts of the yearning stir, as if to match
the rhythm of the rising sun and the fading moon."
This is an impressive penning, my Friend. You've created this remarkable piece with your heart as much as with your hands...We often reveal nuances of Self in our writing that we cannot begin to reveal with our speech...The silent unveiling seems more profound, even deeper, somehow...Good luck in the contest, Poet... Wanda
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And I so want to believe that this will happen in Africa, for as long as I have breath I will breathe it for my adopted child...so glad you wrote this.
Love, Chez
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the physical and beyond to the soul of a place, from the bones...zidele amathambo...life rises as spirit to reclaim lost breath, freedom, and the beauty of life; so wonderful how the grave become a womb of faith here...so much the certainty of faith. Thank you for this fine entry into the contest and best of luck in the judging...PK
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