Lest we forget

Lest we forget

and our ideals desert

as dried bones in a desert



the sacrifice made

the price paid



into earth their blood seeped

up to the sky bodies heaped



the youth of seventy six

who laid freedom's bricks



Biko, Hani, Tambo

Nalucanda uhambo (you set out the journey)

Nalufeza ugqatso (you completed the race)



Sayifumana inkululeko ngegama (we received freedom in name only)

Iziqhamo zayo anazingcamla (its fruits you never tasted)

Noko zona sezibukrakra (though they have become sour)

Ulutsha lusifa yingculaza (the youth dying of aids)



Ngamaxa ndizive ndizibuza (at times I ask myself)

Yiyo lenkululeko na (is this the freedom)

Ubomi benu nazincama (you sacrificed your lives)

Vukani sizwe esimnyama (rise up black nation)



Eternally you slept

Silently we wept

Let us not forget



Let the words of the poet

Be the truth serum to inject

Consciousness so we remain alert

To unchain our mental shackles yet

So we may not forget

And not regret, lest we forget



© Vuyokazi Yonke