The Fallen Zulu Captain (Refrain Stanza) Poem by Gert Strydom

(in answer to C. M. van der Heever)

Forever your king Dingaan waits in Ngungunhlovu on you
where the death that you wanted to bring, to your own Zulu impi came true
and next to you lays your war-club, shield and razor-sharp spear
where to you only the wind blowing through the long grass is near.
They called you Captain; you are remembered as a general in what you did do
but far too late you realised that your enemy did serve God
when the destruction of a whole impi seemed to you odd
when trusting in God a handful did overcome and pursue
where the death that you wanted to bring, to your own Zulu impi came true

[Reference: "Die gevalle Zoeloe indoena" (The fallen Zulu induna)by C. M. van den Heever.Poet's note:An impi here does refer to a tribal army with different regiments out of which it does consist. Ngungunhlovu refers to a large compound in which the Zulu king did live with his regiments of soldiers and his many wives.]

© Gert Strydom