Ballade Of The Impundulu Poem by Gert Strydom

(After A. G. Visser)

I
In the late afternoon when lightning comes down with a thunder
the people shudder that do go astray from the Unkulunkulu,
the children are sheltered big-eyed in all of the straw huts
where they hide and are afraid to breathe

II
Chorus:
and everyone is afraid that the Unkulunkulu does want to destroy,
do take judgement with the thunderbird the Impundulu in a stormy wind,
that the Unkulunkulu sends him from its nest in the great Tamboti tree
that connects the under-earthly, earth and heaven with each other.

III
In his hut the witchdoctor Inyanga boils collected herbs
that on the doorposts does show the Impundulu away
that he finds in the cliffs of the mountain for his dark superstition
when in the summer he is afraid of the constant thunderstorms

IV
but still at times the Impundulu hits both animals and humans,
in the huts it does smell airless and rancid
and in fear all living things do tremble when he comes down
as to his deadly power there is no real border.

[Reference: "Impundulu" by A. G. Visser.Poet's note:According to legend The "Impundulu" is the thunderbird that lives in the upper branches of the great Tamboti tree, in the clouds where its nest is. This tree has interestingly the same properties and is indeed similar to the Nordic "Yggdrasil" legendary tree that connects the under-earthly (hell) , earth and heaven with each other.The "Unkulunkulu" is the Great-Great, the omnipotent Lord God. Inyanga is the witchdoctor, the medicine man. ]

© Gert Strydom