The ever shining star
Of the greatest royal rocks of Nkongho,
Where always you stood tall,
His majesty Tazanu njung-efuellah.
You are the rose of Sharon,
And the lily of the valleys.
As the lily among thorns,
So is your love for your daughters.
As the apple tree among the trees of wood,
So is your care among your sons.
But,
Years quickly have gone by,
The Morning Star steadily ceased,
To rise and pierce the dense woods of Tock.
Where have your Majesty been?
Where are those glittering eyes,
Which like the lion burst,
Through the hearts of your subjects?
Where are those solemn words of wisdom,
Which consoled the broken hearted
And the poor in spirit?
Has Death with his cruel hands,
Tricked you away?
Don’t tell me!
Don’t tell me!
That you now rest,
Where neither hopes, nor fears, nor joy
Rekindle your spirit.
Njung-Efuellah!
Haven’t you learnt, no, heard,
That from the North and West,
Invaders have engulfed and walloped,
Those hills and valleys of yours?
Your kingdom in captivity lies,
In the hands of aggressors.
Day after day, ceaseless springs,
Down the chicks of your subjects,
Like summer-melting snow run.
Impotent and sluggishly,
Your regency failed
To stir fire in their hearts.
To stir this magnificent kingdom to resist
Cruel currents of captivity.
His Majesty,
Whereof the man, that with us trod
This soil, was a Napoleon,
Emerging before the times were ripe.
That father, comforter of ours who
Lives in the Lord.
That the Almighty, which ever reigns and loves,
One God, One word, One Spirit,
To which all creation drifts,
Compensates him.
For,
“Where the word of the King is
There is power:
And who may say unto him,
What does thou?”
Tembong Denis Fonge (20th century) Cameroon
Source: Botsotso
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