Cockie Lobin

This is a Zimbabwean rendition of the favorite children's poem

"Who Killed Cock-Robin?"

Zonke nyoni lapa moya ena kala ene kala,

Ene zwile ena file lo nyoni Cockie Lobin,

Ena zwili ena file ena zwili ena fili Cockie Lobin

Kubani ena blalile cocky lobin,

Mena kluma lo fly,

Na lo piccanini astromomical microscope,

Mena blalile cocky lobin.

Kubani ena blalile cocky lobin,

Mena klumu lo sparrow,

Na lo picannini intercontinental ballistic missile

Mena blalile cocky lobin.

Kubani ena digga lo grave,

Mena klumu lo owl,

Na lo earth moving equipment kamina,

Mena digga lo grave.

Kubani ena klumu lo prayers,

Mena klumu lo vulture,

Ndaba mena kona maningi culture,

Mena klumu lo prayers.

A Poem by John Gillespie Magee KIA WW2

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered
Wings. Sunward I’ve climbed and joined
The tumbling mirth of sun-split cloud – and
Done a hundred things you have not dreamed
Of – wheeled and soared and swung high in
The sunlit silence – hovering there. I’ve chased
The shouting wind along, and flung my eager
Craft through footless halls of air. Up, up, the
Long delirious burning blue I’ve topped the
Wind – swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark nor even eagle flew – And,
While with silent lifting wind I’ve trod the
High untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee
Killed in action – 11th December, 1941
Aged 19 years