Poem
Antjie Krog
WHERE I BECOME YOU (4.)
4.overwhelmed by the whisper of our
capacity to grip
this kneadable earth’s mantle
can I not be not-you
you not be no-one
we not be nowhere
the unheard-of befitting word
not be unsaid by us
my heart falters – more weightless than before
yet bridgeable
there where I am other than you
I begin
it’s true
but there where I am you
have become you
I sing beyond myself
light pulses of quicksilversong
a thing cast beyond all humankind
© Translation: 2009, Karen Press
WHERE I BECOME YOU (4.)
4.
oor-ruisend deur ons
houvassende kapasiteit
op hierdie kniebare aardmantel
kan ek nie nie-jy wees nie
jy nie niemand wees nie
ons nie nêrens wees nie
die ongehoorde behorende woord
nie nie-gesê word deur ons nie
my hart haper – gewigloser as tevore
dog brugbaar
daar waar ek anders as jy is
begin ek
dis waar
maar daar waar ek jy is
jy geword het
sing ek buite myself
ligte polsslae kwiksilwersingend
iets anderkant alle mensheid gekaats
oor-ruisend deur ons
houvassende kapasiteit
op hierdie kniebare aardmantel
kan ek nie nie-jy wees nie
jy nie niemand wees nie
ons nie nêrens wees nie
die ongehoorde behorende woord
nie nie-gesê word deur ons nie
my hart haper – gewigloser as tevore
dog brugbaar
daar waar ek anders as jy is
begin ek
dis waar
maar daar waar ek jy is
jy geword het
sing ek buite myself
ligte polsslae kwiksilwersingend
iets anderkant alle mensheid gekaats
© 2009, Antjie Krog
From: Waar ik jou word
Publisher: Poetry International / Uitgeverij Podium, Rotterdam / Amsterdam
From: Waar ik jou word
Publisher: Poetry International / Uitgeverij Podium, Rotterdam / Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Antjie Krog
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WHERE I BECOME YOU (4.)
4.overwhelmed by the whisper of our
capacity to grip
this kneadable earth’s mantle
can I not be not-you
you not be no-one
we not be nowhere
the unheard-of befitting word
not be unsaid by us
my heart falters – more weightless than before
yet bridgeable
there where I am other than you
I begin
it’s true
but there where I am you
have become you
I sing beyond myself
light pulses of quicksilversong
a thing cast beyond all humankind
© 2009, Karen Press
From: Waar ik jou word
From: Waar ik jou word
WHERE I BECOME YOU (4.)
4.overwhelmed by the whisper of our
capacity to grip
this kneadable earth’s mantle
can I not be not-you
you not be no-one
we not be nowhere
the unheard-of befitting word
not be unsaid by us
my heart falters – more weightless than before
yet bridgeable
there where I am other than you
I begin
it’s true
but there where I am you
have become you
I sing beyond myself
light pulses of quicksilversong
a thing cast beyond all humankind
© 2009, Karen Press
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