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.