If you have javascript turned off you may have problems accessing the (pulldown) menu on this site. If this is the case, you may access all the pages through the "Sitemap" which can be found on the top right of each single page. Thank you!

Psst, hoor hier

Ken jy nog die wind –
die hond-kwaai wind met die venynige byt –
die bangmaak wind teen die bewende ruit –
die skel-trant heul wat in ore fluit?
Onthou jy hoe ons lê,
asemloos bang, niks om te sê,
net die aanhoudende vrees
wat nooit wil genees?

Onthou jy die woorde –
die bitterseer woorde in haat opgesluit –
die nooit-vergeet-woorde wat vir niemand stuit –
die by-bly woorde wat in ons ore tuit?
Onthou jy hoe ons bid,
Hom vra om rusies opsy te sit
maar die nag vir ons net langer word
totdat ons bang-alleen die trane stort?

Ek onthou.
Ja, ek onthou en ek is bly
want die bangwees toe, is nie die bangwees nou.
Die hartseer toe, is nie die hartseer nou.
Nou's ons groot en die pyn het bedaar -
seerkry, hoe veel ook al, dit ken ons klaar.

Do you still remember the wind in the night –
the dog-vicious wind with its cutting bite –
the wind, beating against windows, filling us with fear –
the shrill-toned howling whistle in the ear?
Do you remember us lying awake,
Breathlessly scared, unable to speak,
ongoing fear was all we could feel
without any chance to ever heal?

Do you remember the words –
the bitter pain of words tied up in hate –
the never-forgotten-words, that could not abate –
the never-ending words, banging at the gate?
Do you remember how we used to pray
asking Him to take all the fighting away
instead the night grew longer and longer with fear
until we couldn't stop the shedding of tears?

I remember.
Yes, I remember and I am glad
that the fear of then, is not the fear of now.
The heartache of then, is not the heartache of now.
Now we're big and the pain has calmed down –
And hurt, no matter how big, we know off by heart.