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Isihloko senkondlo yami sithi Gciwane Ndodana kaNgculaza*
The heading of my poem, it says ‘Germ, son of AIDS’**
Trinity Njoko Busisiwe
8 August 2005, performance
Philakahle Hall, Bergville
NginguGciwane Indodana kaNgculaza. I am Germ, son of AIDS.
Iningi lenu liyangazi. There are many of you
who know me.
Kepha laba abangaziyo Yet those who know me do not agree
abavumi ukuthi ngaziwe njengelunga that I be known as one
lomndeni wabo. among their relatives.
Kunalokho bayateketisa. Bathi ubaba There are those who waver. They say my
wami uyindoda yale, father is a man from over there,
phesheya kwelase – Melika. across [the seas] from America.
Kanti qha! Akunjalo. But no! It is not like that.
Ngingu Gciwane, indodana kaNgculaza. I am Germ, son of AIDS.
Kubobonke laba abasho There are those who always say,
Njalo, akulutho. it is nothing.
Mina, Ngiyafika kubona. Yet, I arrive among them.
Abanye baze bateketise ngayo. Others waver.
Yonke indlela abuze ukuthi ngabe They ask in every way how it is
ngiqhamuka kuliphi. that I have suddenly appeared.
Ngithi nginendawo yokuhlala. I say I have a place to stay.
Ngihlala emzimbeni womuntu. I stay in the body of a person.
Nginethezeke ehotela lami, okuyigazi. I am at ease at my hotel, the blood of a
person.
Ingani ngibangisana It is because I contend
nomakhelwane wami with my neighbour
abambiza uMasotsha oMzimba. whom they call, Soldiers-of-the-Body
[the immune system].
Phela, nginobhuti wami omcane. Indeed, I have my younger brother.
Abambiza uZifo zoCansi. They call him Disease-of-the-Mat [of sex].
Ingani uyena ongisizayo It is because he is the one who helps me
ukuba ngibhebhetheke. so that I flare up.***
Ngigcwale izwe lonke I have filled all the land
Ngomzuz’ owodwa. in a single moment.
Ngihlasela ikhulu labantu I attack hundreds of people
ikakhulukazi laba abazonda with a vengeance, especially those who
umalume wami uKhondomi. hate my maternal uncle, Condom.
Kubona ngifika It is amongst them that I arrive
sengiphindaphindeka to return and return again
okwezinwele zomuntu. like the hairs [on the head] of a person.
Phela! NginguGciwane, indodana kaNgculaza. Truly! I am Germ, son of AIDS.
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