Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/184

 "Thus unto the Demon's River
 * Blood instead of milk I fling:

Hear, Uhlanga—great Life-giver!
 * Hear, Toguh—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.

He who wields the bolt of thunder
 * Witnesses thy Mother's vow!

He 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 assegai:

Then, when like hail-storm in harvest
 * On the foe sweeps thy career,

Shall Uhlanga, whom thou servest,
 * Make them stubble to thy spear!"

Thomas Pringle.