Nonkala (Ballade) Poem by Gert Strydom

(after I. D. du Plessis)

For three days Nonkala works alone under the summer sun
and she would have followed her husband if she could
where carefully and slowly she hoes out the weed,
he comes into her thoughts with muscles strong like rock.

Chorus:
In front of Nonkala stands the brave induna, her husband fiercely:
"I will come back with the skin of the male lion over my chest,
too many cattle that cruel beast has already caught"
and it's clear that he yearns to kill the lion.

Around her the maize stand in green row upon row
and endless until into the late afternoon she works
while she yearns and longs for him,
for another lonely night throws out his bedding.

In her thoughts she notices the induna's spear-point gleam,
how he swings his battle-club and his war cry does roar loud
where undaunted he stands among a horde of lions
and his spear does sink away into the heart of the male lion

but where the sun hangs in the middle of the sky
she suddenly hears the other women's joyful-song,
do notice the brave heroes returning from the hunt
and suddenly she feels wavering and scared.

The heroes sing their song of his heroic death
and their reverence and honour for her husband is great
where they do carry him with the lion skin over part of him
where his mangled body is uncovered.

[Reference:"Nonkala" by I. D. du Plessis.Poet's note:The word "induna" here means "a member of the body guard of a paramount chief, that is also a officer in the tribal army and a counsellor of the paramount chief."]

© Gert Strydom