Dumiso: A Deferred Re-union by Makhanda Senzangakhona

Makhanda Senzangakhona | November 18th, 2019 | poetry | No Comments

Poet Bio

Commandier,
I missed you
In Rivonia.
Without summon
I meant to appear
before the elders’ counsel
bearing homage to the sage of Chikurubi
the bridge between age and regiments
I dared intrude on elders ‘ space, incense and salute
Of the spirits of Zambezi, Wankie, Sipolilo, Lupane, Caculama and Nyamapanda.

Umkhonto lo’
Owafelempini, o umkhonto lo
Umkhonto lo’
Owasalempini, o umkhonto lo.
I heard the song seeding the sky

And the resounding slogan:
Tambo, Nkomo, makommander,
Zipra, Mkhonto, nyamazane.
A frozen yet unfazed moment
Still spilling under trendy soles
Of Millenials, Fees Must Fall,
Echoing where we once were.
We inheritors of the base,
fledglings of ancient wells.
Though stymied yet still defiant.

Unfurled banners we bring
From umkhulu Mqabuko
and Thambo le Nyoka.
To the elders
And yourself, Dabengwa,
Hands behind unbroken back,
pacing the enslaving space,
Under the warder’s hawk eye,
Yet, oblivious of your spell
On eternity with petals
of Thiongo and Utopia
Of Engels and socialism.

In SA now,
The prophesy is fulfilled,
We lived to tell the tale.
Though mountains have sprung before us
Where we sought plains, valleys
And the flat lay of the land,
Another course,
now stands before
our ways,
daring us – conquer.

Heard you were here
Though time….ever the spoiler,
failed us,
The mission, nay part of it,
Is fulfilled.
There’s the unfinished business
though, Commandier,
the outstanding echoes
and confluence of Shashe
and Limpopo..rivers
The economic-
and the socio-cultural realm,
Still, is nowhere near our reach.

Homage, to them out there
their scattered uncollected bones
And wandering souls.
Roll Call, so Mavuso reminds:
Fall In.
Still we ask, under our watch:
“Where the rain ..began beating us”
We want answers.
From none, but ourselves..
So you taught,
the duty of accountability,
Is to take responsibility.

Poet Bio

Makhanda Senzangakhona is the nome de guerre and pen name for Paul Oupa Serekele Ramachela. The author has retained the use of both names because he does not wish to be lost to his comrades nor become an alien to his family, and relations. Previously published poems, short stories and other narratives have appeared in the following publications, amongst others, Staff Rider, Rixaka, Mayibuye, Mrabulo and Black Letter Media-Poetrypotion.
The author has served in various roles in and outside SA; until recently he was a senior public servant.

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