I Have A House By The See: His Name Is Jesus Poem by MTHOKOZISI NTOKOZO MAPHUMULO

I have a house by the sea (His name is Jesus)

I have a house by the sea. That is night
I hear one by one, the waves disturbances
Against the rocks where my house stands
With all ocean’s powerful force.
I hear the wind cry- a cracking, a force
As the lost spirits souls in their death
All wondering, complaining, what in grave and death
No rest could be found, but yet seeking and smacking.

My small fire burning, my tiny kindle give it light
I hear just a little bit how rough the storm outside,
I hear rough winds in my boat
Hear- inside is not scary, but warm and stable

Come night, come weather and wind, Come Ocean –
That is a rock where my house stands
His name is Jesus


Ek het ‘n huisie by die see. Dis nag.
Ek hoor aaneen, aaneen die golwe slaan
Teenaan die rots waarop my huisie staan
Met al die oseaan se woeste krag.
Ek hoor die winde huil- ‘n kreun krag,
Soos van verlore siele in hul dood
Al dwalend, klagend, wat in graaf en dood
Geen rus kon vind nie, maar nog soek en smag.

My vuurkie brand, my kersie gee sy lig.
Ek hoor dan maar hoe loei die storm daarbuite,
Ek hoor hoe ruk die winde aan my ruite;
Hier buite is dit veilig, warm en dig.

Kom nag, kom weer en wind, kom osean-
Dit is ‘n rots waarop my huisie staan


Uit soos die windjies wat suis en ander gedigte; Written by H.A Fagan; translated by Maphumulo Mthokozisi Ntokozo (Howard College)