Classic Poem

HALF-WAY up Indóda climbing,
 Hangs the wizard-forest old,
From whose shade is heard the chiming
 Of a streamlet clear and cold:
With a mournful sound it gushes
 From its cavern in the steep;
Then at once its wailing hushes
 In a lakelet dark and deep.

Standing by the dark blue water,
 Robed in panther's speckled hide,
Who is she! Jalúhsa's daughter,
 Bold Makanna's widowed bride.
Stern she stands, her left hand clasping
 By the arm her wondering child:
He, her shaggy mantle grasping,
 Gazes up with aspect wild.

Thrice in the soft fount of nursing
 With sharp steel she pierced a vein.—
Thrice the White Oppressor cursing,
 While the blood gushed forth amain,—
Wide upon the dark-blue water,
 Sprinkling thrice the crimson tide,—
Spoke Jalúhsa's high-souled daughter,
 Bold Makanna's widowed bride.

‘Thus into the Demon's River
 Blood instead of milk I fling:
Hear, U HLANGA —great Life-Giver!
 Hear, T OGUH —Avenging King!
Thus the Mother's feelings tender
 In my breast I stifle now:
Thus I summon you to render
 Vengeance for the Widow's vow!

‘Who shall be the Chief's Avenger!
 Who the Champion of the Land!
Boy! the pale Son of the Stranger
 Is devoted to thy hand.
H E who wields the bolt of thunder
 Witnesses thy Mother's vow!
H E who rends the rocks asunder
 To the task shall train thee now!

‘When thy arm grows strong for battle,
 Thou shalt sound Makanna's cry,
Till ten thousand shields shall rattle
 To war-club and assagai:
Then, when like hail-storm in harvest
 On the foe sweeps thy career,
Shall U HLANGA whom thou servest,
 Make them stubble to thy spear!’