Ikliphu Yevidiyo
Ingoma
I stepped into an avalanche
– Ndangena kwi-avalanche
It covered up my soul
– Wawugubungela umphefumlo wam
When I am not this hunchback that you see
– If i’m not this sweatshirt that you see
I sleep beneath the golden hill
– Lala phantsi kwenduli yegolide
You who wish to conquer pain
– Whores in ntlungu
You must learn, learn to serve me well
– Kufuneka ufunde, ndikhonze kakuhle
You strike my side by accident
– Ubetha icala lam ngengozi
As you go down for your goal
– Njengoko usihla usukela injongo yakho
The cripple here that you clothe and feed
– I-crimple apha ukuba unxibe kwaye udle
Is neither starved nor cold
– Akalambi kwaye akabandi
He does not ask for your company
– Yena akuthethi ukuba ufuna ukuba badibane nabo
Not at the center, the center of the world
– Hayibo centre, hayibo world centre
And I am on a pedestal
– Kwaye ndikwipedestal
You did not raise me there
– Awuzange undikhulise apho
Your laws do not compel me now
– Imithetho yakho musa ukundinyanzela ngoku
To kneel grotesque and bare
– Ukuguqa igrotesque kwaye ingenanto
I myself am the pedestal
– I’m yours ukulele pedal
For this ugly hump at which you stare
– Kule mpumlo imbi apho ujonge khona
You who wish to conquer pain
– Whores in ntlungu
You must learn what makes me kind
– Funda oko kundenza ndibe nobubele
The crumbs of love that you offer me
– Imvuthuluka yothando ondipha lona
Are the crumbs I’ve left behind
– Zizo ezo iimvuthuluka endizishiye ngasemva
Your pain is no credential here
– Intlungu yakho ayikho isiqinisekiso apha
It’s just a shadow, shadow of my wound
– Kuphela isithunzi, isithunzi senxeba lam
I have begun to long for you
– Kudala ndikulangazelela
I who have no greed
– Mna ndingenabawa
I have begun to ask for you
– Ndiqale ukukubuza
I who have no need
– I don’t need nobody
You say you’ve gone away from me
– Nithi niyandishiya
But I can feel you, feel you when you breathe
– I’m feeling you, while you’re breathing
Do not dress in those rags for me
– Musa ukunxiba ezi rags kum
I know you are not poor
– Ndiyazi ukuba awuhluphekanga
And don’t love me, quite so fiercely now
– Kwaye ungandithandi, kakhulu ngoku
When you know that you are not sure
– Xa uyazi ukuba awuqinisekanga
It is your turn, my beloved one
– Nwaiiza nande-intanda yam
It is your flesh that I wear
– Yinyama yakho endiyinxibayo
