Poem
Alfred Schaffer
I ACCEPT THE AMORALITY OF NATURE LIKE THAT OF MYSELF AND THE FREE WILL OF OTHERS
connecting with my ancestors.an obscure group of men and women
at their wits’ end.
praying to the spirit in their ancient habitat
like a form of rhythmic commerce.
with their colourful village as hunting ground.
a sacred place built up of
wooden huts brick buildings wild terrain
and imaginary trees that protect from life and death
as rigid as bodyguards.
if as a free person I fall from one of those trees
I stay lying on the ground and a brand new tree grows out of me!
like from the cracked stone of a fruit.
I have so much more to tell you.
about woodcutters and gold-diggers who turned
history on its head not so long ago.
about making peace or fighting to the death.
about the coloniser and his ridiculous family matters.
but of course I could be exaggerating.
© Translation: 2021, Michele Hutchison
IK ACCEPTEER DE AMORALITEIT VAN DE NATUUR ALS DIE VAN MIJZELF EN DE VRIJE WIL VAN ANDEREN
IK ACCEPTEER DE AMORALITEIT VAN DE NATUUR ALS DIE VAN MIJZELF EN DE VRIJE WIL VAN ANDEREN
in verbinding treden met mijn voorouders.een obscure groep vrouwen en mannen
aan het eind van hun latijn.
bidden tot de geest in hun eeuwenoude leefgebied
als een vorm van ritmisch zakendoen.
met hun bontgekleurde dorp als jachtterrein.
een sacrale plaats opgetrokken uit
houten hutten stenen gebouwen wilde gronden
en denkbeeldige bomen die streng als lijfwachten
beschermen tegen leven en dood.
als ik als vrij mens uit zo’n boom val
blijf ik liggen en groeit er uit mij een splinternieuwe boom!
als uit de opengespleten pit van een vrucht.
zo kan ik u nog meer vertellen.
over houtkappers en goudzoekers die niet lang geleden
de geschiedenis fors overhoop haalden.
over vrede sluiten of strijden tot de dood.
over de kolonisator en zijn lachwekkende familieproblemen.
maar ik kan het natuurlijk ook overdrijven.
© 2020, Alfred Schaffer
From: Wie was ik. strafregels
Publisher: De Bezige Bij,
From: Wie was ik. strafregels
Publisher: De Bezige Bij,
Poems
Poems of Alfred Schaffer
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I ACCEPT THE AMORALITY OF NATURE LIKE THAT OF MYSELF AND THE FREE WILL OF OTHERS
connecting with my ancestors.an obscure group of men and women
at their wits’ end.
praying to the spirit in their ancient habitat
like a form of rhythmic commerce.
with their colourful village as hunting ground.
a sacred place built up of
wooden huts brick buildings wild terrain
and imaginary trees that protect from life and death
as rigid as bodyguards.
if as a free person I fall from one of those trees
I stay lying on the ground and a brand new tree grows out of me!
like from the cracked stone of a fruit.
I have so much more to tell you.
about woodcutters and gold-diggers who turned
history on its head not so long ago.
about making peace or fighting to the death.
about the coloniser and his ridiculous family matters.
but of course I could be exaggerating.
© 2021, Michele Hutchison
From: Wie was ik. strafregels
From: Wie was ik. strafregels
I ACCEPT THE AMORALITY OF NATURE LIKE THAT OF MYSELF AND THE FREE WILL OF OTHERS
connecting with my ancestors.an obscure group of men and women
at their wits’ end.
praying to the spirit in their ancient habitat
like a form of rhythmic commerce.
with their colourful village as hunting ground.
a sacred place built up of
wooden huts brick buildings wild terrain
and imaginary trees that protect from life and death
as rigid as bodyguards.
if as a free person I fall from one of those trees
I stay lying on the ground and a brand new tree grows out of me!
like from the cracked stone of a fruit.
I have so much more to tell you.
about woodcutters and gold-diggers who turned
history on its head not so long ago.
about making peace or fighting to the death.
about the coloniser and his ridiculous family matters.
but of course I could be exaggerating.
© 2021, Michele Hutchison
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