The inimitable Linda Gabriel!

Linda Gabriel performing the poem below at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa)a fortnight ago.

Swedera Pedyo Neni
(by Linda Gabriel)

Ko nhai mudiwa
zvakaipei kana ndikati:
Swedera pedyo neni?
Uswedere pedyo kuti undipewo
Zvako zviya zvegore rakapera,
mwedzi wakapfura,
vhiki rakapera
Kunyangwe nanhasi mangwanani
muimba yekubikira
Undibate zvinyoro nyoro,
zvakaporera,
zvine unyanzvi
Zvinotekenyedza,
zvonozipa,
zvinodakadza

Zvakaipei kana ndikati swedera pedyo neni
Undibate zvako zviya zvamazuva ose?
Ini ndinonyatsobvuma
Muviri wose wodairira
Makumbo nemaoko zvobvunda
Hana yorova sendinomhanyiswa

Saka zvakaipei
kana ndikati swedera pedyo neni?
Nyatsoswedera,
chipfuva chako chive pane changu
Mazamu angu neako ave mapatya
Ndoda kuti hana yangu irove
pamusoro peyako
Maoko ako onyatsotamba pamuviri wangu
Uchizevezera nyaya dzerudo
munzeve dzangu
Uchinyatsozuwa kuti uchandiita sei
Ini ndichinyatsoteerera
nekunyerekedzwa.


Saka zvakaipei
kana ndikati
swedera pedyo neni?