Konke kuyafana, pho yini inkinga?
Isibhakabhaka esifanayo siyakhazimula futhi.
Izihlahla ezifanayo, umoya ofanayo, amanzi afanayo...
Nguye kuphela owalahlekelwa ukuphila kwakhe empini.
Ebusuku, emigqeni yethu,
Ubani owayeqinisile? Angiqiniseki.
Ngaqala ukumkhumbula kuphela manje
Lapho elahlekelwa ukuphila kwakhe empini.
Wayenamahloni lapho ekhuluma, engakwazi ukucula,
Amakhono akhe siqu ayempofu.
Wayengivusa athi, "Bheka inyanga!"
Kanti izolo ulahlekelwe yimpilo yakhe empini.
Ukungabi nalutho kwase kuguga, ukukhathala,
Ngokushesha kwafika kimi- kade sikhona ezimbili ngaphambili.
Ngaqhaqhazela kwangathi kuvunguza umlilo
Ngoba walahlekelwa ukuphila kwakhe empini.
Intwasahlobo iqhuma isiphithiphithi;
Ngephutha ngiphinde ngimemeze,
"Ngiyekele ngibheme!" … Konke kuyathula.
Izolo ulahlekelwe yimpilo yakhe empini.
Abafileyo bethu ngeke basishiye sihlupheka,
Abawile bethu basigade kabusha.
Isibhakabhaka sikhanyisa ihlathi njengasemanzini;
Nezihlahla zimile, ziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka.
Isikhathi sethu sahamba sobabili, ngokukhululeka.
Eqhugwaneni lethu, asikaze sizizwe simpofu.
Manje njengoba ngingedwa, kubonakala kimi
Kwakuwukuthi ngalahlekelwa ukuphila kwami empini.
-1969
Ihunyushwe nguCurtis Cooper ngo-2009