Come Sit Close

Mm, I hear you
Ngiyakuzwa

Auntie Lindiwe sets enamel plates in a line
Uncle Sizwe checks the coals, says, "The fire is fine"
Two folding chairs face the yard, then turn away
Same family house, same Sunday, different things to say
You lift your chin: "Mm." I answer: "Yeah."
We pass the cooler round the cousins, never where we stand
Years got packed in small replies
A nod at the gate, no questions why

But the old photo leans against the wall
Everybody smiling, everybody saw

I hear you now (ngiyakuzwa manje)
Hlala lapha, come sit close
We lost years in a little sound
I hear you now

Hm-ba, hey (hm-ba, hey)
Ngiyakuzwa

Little Amahle runs in with the picture held high
"Look, you're both in this one, why don't you stand by?"
She puts it on the cooler, right between our knees
Younger faces under jacaranda trees
You laugh first, soft and surprised; I nearly do too
You say, "I missed your jokes." I say, "I missed you"
A chair scrapes back; the whole yard makes room
Even the smoke feels lighter drifting past the broom

One plate, two hands, pass it here
One name, two voices, loud and clear

I hear you now (ngiyakuzwa manje)
Hlala lapha, come sit close
We lost years in a little sound
I hear you now
I hear you now

Silence became a habit, not a shield
A door we kept shut after the wound had healed
We were not strangers
We were just out of time

I hear you now (ngiyakuzwa manje)
Pull that chair, let them know
Lost years, now we're home
I hear you now

Pass the plate (we're here)
Keep that picture (we're here)

The chairs fold late, the coals turn grey
I hear you now
Lost years, now we're home
I hear you now

Pass the plate (we're here)
Keep that picture (we're here)

The chairs fold late, the coals turn grey
I hear you now