Om MA te wees & To be MUM

'n Klompie jare gelede het ek 'n gedig oor my ma geskryf. 'n Paar jaar later het ek besluit om hierdie gedig ook in Engels te vertaal. Ek plaas beide weergawes.

Om MA te wees

Opgetooi in mooi frases en versigtig gekose woorde,
kan ek van jou ook ‘n cliché in ‘n Hallmark kaartjie maak,
maar pretensie sal aan jou onreg doen, want dit is jy nooit.
Die dink in my kop wil hom vasmaak aan soetsappighede
en ek moet my met mening wegskeur van geykte frases wat
net jou skadu kan verklap, terwyl ek opsoek is na jou omvang.
Uiteindelik besluit ek woorde is arm aan jou,
want ek soek in al die tale, maar kry jou nie raakgepraat.
Sprake van jou vind ek in elke taal, jou aroma in elke land,
jou asem op elke kind se gesig, jou siel in elke era se poësie,
jou gees in die oë en die hande en die harte van die wat omgee,
maar steeds kry ek jou nie vasgevat, want jy’s te groot vir my.
Dus wend ek my tot jou skare bewonderaars
en ons gooi ons arms uit, vleg ons vingers in mekaar
en staan sirkel om jou, tevrede met net ‘n bietjie, want jy’s genoeg.

To be MUM

(translated from the Afrikaans om MA te wees) 

Dressed up in catch phrases and carefully chosen words,
I could turn you into a cliché in a Hallmark card as well,
but pretence would do you an injustice, for you are not like that.
My thoughts want to hook themselves onto sweet little nothings
and I have to will myself away from stereotypical phrases which would,
whilst I am searching for your scope, merely reflect your silhouette.
At last I conclude that words fall short of you,
because a search through the world’s tongues fail to capture you.
You are mentioned in every language, your aroma wafting through every country,
your breath on the faces of the world’s children, your soul in the poetry of the ages,
your spirit in the eyes, the hands and the hearts of the caregivers,
but still my words fail to grab hold of you, because you are too big for me.
And so I turn myself to the multitudes who adore you
and we stretch our arms out wide and linking hands we encircle you,
satisfied each with our own portion, because to us you are enough.

An original poem by Miekie (Marietjie Uys)

'n Oorspronklike gedig deur Miekie (Marietjie Uys)

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
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