Die wêreldwye groet:
‘n handskud.
Ek het baie mense aangeraak
In my lewe:
Die beroemde,
Die welaf
Die suinige
Die genie
Die leunaar
Die verslaafde
Die kind
Die swakkeling
Die onderwyser
Die leier
Die oumens
Die vreemdeling, die streke, en die eerbiedige.
Die met die helende aanraking
En opregte oë
Waarin ek my vrede vind,
My genesing,
My pa, sy soort musiek
En moeë hande.
My Lauren, my Emanuelle, en my David,
Hierdie mense is in my bloed
Al hul grasse, blomme weef my tuiste
Hier of enige grond
Waaroor ek loop.
The worldwide greeting:
A handshake.
I’ve touched a lot of people
In my life:
The famous,
The rich,
The miser,
The genius,
The lair,
The addict,
The child,
The weak,
The teacher,
The leader,
The stranger-
The meek, the strong, and the example
The friend who possesses
The magic touch of a healer-
With just the right grip
And sincere eyes
In which I find my solace,
My panacea.
My father, his kind music
And tired hands,
My Lauren, my Emanuelle, and my David
These souls become my blood
All their grasses, flowers weave my home-
Here, or any land
Over which I walk.
Author notes
i used to live in south africa when i was younger, and this was written about all of the experiences i have found in my life, wherever i have gone. it is written in afrikaans- and mind you, extremely rusty afrikaans--- but all in all, i enjoyed this. cheers, ryn
language rocks
Written August 9th, 2005
A contest entry
- le contest de francais et Latinam et cetera by asinnerliketherest.
300 points, ended September 24, 2005, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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I liked this. I don't speak any Afrikanns but it made me smile that I understood some things before reading the translation... Writing poetry in languages other than English is cool, keep it up!
LittleAnn
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This is beautiful, and done in a beautiful language. I'd like to learn it someday (the only afrikaan I know is from the lion king soundtrack) shakes head sadly This was amazing.
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beautiful
This is a beautiful poem... I don't speak or read Afrikaans, but it is beautiful in both languages. Thanks for entering, even though your entry was removed. The contest was just meant to be an encouragement, a springboard for amazing poetry-- and I think that has been accomplished.
Thanks again for this wonderful poem. -
A very lovely piece, nice writing. -Al
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hello.
I added you to my favorites for your username alone. Reading your poetry makes me realize it wasn't a mistake to do so! I like it. Please keep sharing. -
Nicolette, dit help, ek dank baie.
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Ooo ja, miskien moet jy die titel van die gedig ook verander na "Land waar ek reis" (land I travel) ~
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Aaah, so wonderlik om nog 'n Afrikaanse gedig in hierdie kompetisie te vind!! I can feel, see and read the nostalgia in this poem, the beautiful memories that shape and hold us - no matter where we go. The sentence structure is quite fine...here and there a few spelling errors, but nothing you can't fix! I'll just list them here for you:
wêreidwye -> wêreldwye
swakeling -> swakkeling
vreendeling -> vreemdeling
strek -> sterke
Die met die regte druk -> die met die helende aanraking
opregete -> opregte
my freed -> my vrede
sy sort musiek -> sy soort musiek
moeg oordras -> moeë hande
Dit hierdie gees raak my bloed -> hierdie mense is in my bloed
Elke sy gras, bloms naaldwerk doen my huis toe -> al hul grasse, blomme weef my tuiste
Hierheen, of iemnand daal -> hier of enige grond
Op wat ek stap -> waaroor ek loop
Hoop dit help, Ryn! Dit is 'n pragtige gedig - beste wense!!
~ Nicolette
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