I have seen you play, oh whale, upon the waves of the sea.
I have heard your mournful song directed at the gods of long ago.
Your cornfield is the waves,
And your village is the eternal sea.
I have seen the waving of your great tail as you dive beneath the waves, only to rise to the surface again.
You are the untiring player who delights the gods, the gods that are of old Africa.
You are the one that knows all.
Our forefathers called you Umkhona, the one who knows everything.
If only your mouth could speak with human speech, what knowledge we would gain from you.
If only I could shake your hand what medicines I would learn from you!
You are the lord of the mermaids,
The commander of the sharks,
You lead the choir of fishes that dwell under the waters.
It is said that many many years ago your kind were human beings, a noble race of demigods that fought against the dark ones at the birth of creation.
Oh whale, may I hear your song before I pass away from this world!
May I hear your mournful singing before I return to the grey darkness from which I came.
The birds of the sea sing when you appear.
The fishes are delighted.
And the waves leap high to accompany you as you play to the delight of the sun and the gods of long ago.
May you survive for thousands of years and a hundred thousand years more! | 
