Paul Celan: verafrikaans en vertaal deur Helize van Vuuren, 14/7/2014
24 RUE TOURNEFORT
You and your
kitchensink German — yes, sink-,
yes, before — ossuaries.
Say: Löwig. Say: Shiviti
The black cloth
they lowered before you,
when your breath
swelled scarward,
brothers too, you stones,
image the word shut behind
side glances.
Note: here Celan (as he does in the published poem “Einkanter,”) cites the 16th Psalm, verse 8, translated in the King James version as “I have set the LORD always before me: / because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” The Hebrew for “set before me” is “Shiviti.” “Lôwig” on the other hand remains an unidentified source. http://www.pierrejoris.com/blog/?p=9851
VON WIELLIGHSTRAAT 27
Jy en jou
opwasbak Afrikaans – ja, opwasbak –,
ja, voor – dooie gebeentes.
Sê: Skande. Sê: Onversetlik.
Die swart doek
wat hul voor jou laat sak het,
toe jou asem
opwaarts swel,
broers ook, julle klippe,
prent die woord agter gesluit
sywaarts geloer.
(Vert. & verafrikaans deur Helize van Vuuren)