Therefore do not let me go

Therefore do not let me go
where porpoises suddenly disappear
in dark western waters and I stand,
staring, a wind-hewn figure.

Do not let me travel
to moon drops of islands, adornments
as the sun would have them;
or turn from pole to pole, harassed,

don’t. I found preserved
in me the brittle fracture spot
and mine within this province
despair enough. And hate hard as tungsten.

Therefore do not let me go

Moet dus nie dat ek gaan
waar tornyne in die donker westerse water
sienderoog verdwyn en ek staan
en bly tuur, ’n windgehoue beeld nie.

Moenie dat ek reise aflê
na eilande uit die maan gedrup, sierade
soos die son dit wil hê;
of my van pool na pool aangeja wend nie,

moenie. Ek het die plek
met brosbreuk behoue in my gevind
en ontgin in dié bestek
wanhoop genoeg. En wolframharde haat.