Poem
Antjie Krog
NEITHER FAMILY NOR FRIENDS
tonight everything speaks through the deadtowards me
your brittle bundle of bones
my longestloved beloved
lies lonely and longingly cradled somewhere lost
and lean
I am overwhelmingly awake tonight
of me so little has become
you are all I had in this world
beloved deathling
alone and cold it is behind my ribs
Africa had me giving up all
it is so dark
it is so bleak
soft beloved taunter
of me so little has become
I am down
to my last skin
© Translation: 2000, Antjie Krog
From: Down to my last skin
From: Down to my last skin
nòg familie nòg vriende
nòg familie nòg vriende
alles praat heen deur die dooiesna my toe
jou bros bondel bene
my liefste liewerlee
lê lankuit bewaar
ek is oraloor wakker vannag
maar van my het so min gekom
jy’s al wat ek in die wêreld had
liefste dooieling
alleen en koud is dit tussen
my ribbes Afrika het my alles laat prysgee
dis so donker
dis so kil
sagte koggelaar
van my het so min gekom
ek is af
tot my laaste vel
© 2000, Antjie Krog
From: Down to my last skin
Publisher: Random House, South Africa
From: Down to my last skin
Publisher: Random House, South Africa
Poems
Poems of Antjie Krog
Close
NEITHER FAMILY NOR FRIENDS
tonight everything speaks through the deadtowards me
your brittle bundle of bones
my longestloved beloved
lies lonely and longingly cradled somewhere lost
and lean
I am overwhelmingly awake tonight
of me so little has become
you are all I had in this world
beloved deathling
alone and cold it is behind my ribs
Africa had me giving up all
it is so dark
it is so bleak
soft beloved taunter
of me so little has become
I am down
to my last skin
© 2000, Antjie Krog
From: Down to my last skin
From: Down to my last skin
NEITHER FAMILY NOR FRIENDS
tonight everything speaks through the deadtowards me
your brittle bundle of bones
my longestloved beloved
lies lonely and longingly cradled somewhere lost
and lean
I am overwhelmingly awake tonight
of me so little has become
you are all I had in this world
beloved deathling
alone and cold it is behind my ribs
Africa had me giving up all
it is so dark
it is so bleak
soft beloved taunter
of me so little has become
I am down
to my last skin
© 2000, Antjie Krog
From: Down to my last skin
From: Down to my last skin
Sponsors
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère