Nith’ iphi na le nkululeko?

Ndiva kuliliselwa ngenkululeko;

Nam ndathatha khona;

Ndiva isankxwe ngayo le nkululeko;

Nam ndaland’ ekhondweni;

Ndiva isimbombonono ngenkululeko;

Nam ndambonzeleka;

Ndiva kubhiyozelwa inkululeko;

Nam andazibeka phantsi;

Ndithi iphi na le nkululeko?

Ndiyabhiyoza kuba kuyabhiyozwa;

Ndiyalilisela kuba kuyaliliselwa;

Ndiyambombozela kuba ndiyayiva imbombo;

Isankxwe sayo sitsho kamnandi;

Inqambuzane mna andiyiboni le nkululeko;

Mhlawumbi ndinengcinga zika Swanasibomvana;

Nith’ iphi nale nkululeko?

Yimbini yezolo kaGxuluwe; Siphila kwilizwe lezithembiso ezingafezekiyo Sihla nabehlayo sinyuka nabenyukayo;

Sicula nabaculayo nkululeko yityhiniphi;

Mhlawumbi inkululeko andiyazi;

Ubuyatha bam bundenza imfama;

Ubukhobokha bomphefumlo wam;

Bundenza ndibesisityhakala; Ukuhlupheka kwam;

Kuphazamisa ukuhlakanipha kwam;

Nkululeko wawuphi?

Uphi umhlaba wokhokho makwedini?

Inyani yemka namafanankosi;

Int’ezazingathengi buso;

Amangcwaba okhokho kutabhatwa phezu kwawo;

Kuphi ukuphumla komphefumlo?

Umphefumlo wabalele usemakhamandeleni;

Ubotshwe ngamatyathanga awunakukhululeka;

Inkululeko ebabeyilwela ibhangile;

Inkululeko exhanyulwa ngabathile ayikabi yiyo.

Sikhohliswa ligama;

Izenzo zobukhobokha zixhaphakile;

Sibethwa ngemf’ iphindiwe;

Umoya awukhululekanga uqamangekile;

Abaphezulu bathsanza ngabaphantsi;

Ingqeqe zibaleka nesijungqu sethambo elingenamongo;

Osokhetye bazisikela kwincuma;

Kuxhelw’ eXhukwane kohlohlesakhe;

Ziphi imfuno zabantu?

Impendulo uyayifumana emngxunyeni wentuku;

Kudlaliwe ngengqondo zethu;

Savulwa nje amehlo;

Sakrotyiswa nje ngentloko;

Kanti kuthiwa lala gusha ndikuchebe;

Akukho nkang’ idubul’ingethi;

Ngeny’ imini nathi sakubasethamsanqeni;

Siyingcamle le nkululeko noba kunini;

Intwana yethemba isekho; Singazi ke noba silind’ukuza kukaNxele.