elegie vir Patrick Petersen
ek’s ‘n doodgewone ou
wat die reënboogkleure meng
en ‘n huldeblyk verf nét vir jou
só swaar om protes en pyn
deur jou pen te voel vloei
tog was dit vir joú
ver verhewe bo vers en kwatryn
noú wil ek jou prentjie skilder
op ‘n doek wat nooit sal afskilfer
want ál onthou ek
die gehuil van ‘n pen
versteen in ‘n oomblik
toe bloed en metaal meng
weet ek ook jỳ
kon jou oë in vrede sluit
met jou laaste huistoery
© 2021 Selwyn W Milborrow
* Patrick Petersen was ‘n dominee, digter en uitgewer. Hy is op 7 Junie 1997, in ‘n motorongeluk dood. Sy dood was deur vriende en mede-skrywers met agterdog begroet.
I'm just an average guy
who mixes the colors of the rainbow
and paints a tribute just for you
so difficult to let pain and protest
be felt through the flow of your pen
yet it was for you
far elevated above verse and quatrain
now I want to paint a picture for you
on a canvas that will never peel off
even though I recall
the weeping of a pen
petrified in a moment
when blood and metal mixes
I also know you
could close your eyes in peace
with your final ride home