From beyond the wall of present I see

Faces young and old carved with

smiling lines, strong

Defying yesterday’s and today’s pain

dried in cakes of tears beneath their chins

Hear voices of bells shake the very air

The blood of innocent children

A fragrance intoxicatingly loud

Euphoric, clanking like freedom

Knocking on the door of every citizen

Inviting all to drink from the cup of sacrifice.

From beyond the future I see

Multitudes

My brothers and sisters burn the spear of hate

I feel love erupt from the very core

of the human heart.

I behold Madzimbabwe

Clothed in majestic splendor

Endowed with flawless beauty

Her wedding gown a sight to behold

Her smile welcoming all from beyond

Her gaze not flirty but steady

Neighbors look at her envious

Lower their heads in respect

To the virtuous bride.

The spirits of the land have spoken

Even earth refuses to bear fruit

For her children to feed on

Nehanda, Tongogara, Kaguvi?

Your spirits restless roam below

The orchestra of your bones clatter,

calling your children to the winter chastened streets

You wear long faces, we hear you cus,

spit disgusted at our silence.

Nehanda, Tongogara, Kaguvi

Raise the voice of your silent children

Impel the resigned voices to chant,

Chant freedom loud

Impel the choirs of the land to sing

Sing the freedom melody

Impel the drummers of the ngoma

To beat freedom off the tethered reigns

Impel, I, the poet of the land to glorify

Only the deserving heroes

Spirit of the land ARISE.

©By Batsirai Easther Chigama

11/06/08