SELECTED POEMS ACCORDING TO THEMES THAT RUN ACROSS PUBLISHED WORKS
jou lyf is ‘n boom
waarin jy bly
reën stoot op in jou are
dam in die holtes van ‘n vlesige stam
jou bors het ‘n duikie vir drinkplek
daar’s ‘n klein fontein in jou mond
lekkerbekvrugte hang swaar van loom stingels
blare blinkvol sap
daar’s dou en tarzantoue in jou baard
ek wil ‘n boomhuis in jou bou
Translated from Afrikaans by the poet
Your body is a tree
that you live in:
rain wells up in your veins,
dams in the dips of a fleshy stem.
Your chest has a small dent to drink from,
there’s a tiny spout in your mouth.
Fruit drape low from sleepy shoots,
leaves shimmer with sap.
In your beard are monkey ropes and dew,
I want to build a tree house in you.
Scrutinising my box of threads
for the precise colour to match
a favourite garment I want to mend,
makes me recall yesterday morning –
a girl with blushing cheeks
leaning over to thread my brow…
“Make me look pretty – it’s my anniversary”, I said.
“Marriage is not easy, but it’s worthwhile.”
Threads between fingers, her voice chimed:
“Twenty three years? I’d like to do that one day –
it’s like keep fixing something,
not tossing it away.”
My Love, that girl’s envy renewed my vow
to search more often for suitable shades
in my box of yarns, to mend and darn
our worn habits and faded gowns.
(Translated from English by the poet)
Toe ek grawe in my boksievol gare
vir die presiese kleur
om ‘n gunsteling-kledingstuk
mee reg te maak,
onthou ek gisteroggend –
‘n meisie met blosende wange
het oorgeleun om my wenkbroue op te knap…
Ek sê toe, “Maak my mooi – dis my herdenking.
Trou is nie maklik nie, maar dis belonend.”
Gare tussen vingers, klingel haar stem:
“Drie en twintig jaar?
Ek sou dít graag eendag wou doen –
dis soos om iets voortdurend reg te maak
inplaas van om daarvan ontslae te raak.”
My Liewe Man, hoe daardie meisie ons beny,
het my voorneme vernuwe
om meer gereeld te soek vir gepaste kleure
in my boksie gare, om te ryg en stop
aan ons verslete gewoontes
en verbleikte gewade.