e.e. cummings. Vertaling in Afrikaans

as freedom is a breakfastfood

or truth can live with right and wrong

or molehills are from mountains made

—long enough and just so long

will being pay the rent of seem

and genius please the talentgang

and water most encourage flame

as hatracks into peachtrees grow

or hopes dance best on bald men’s hair

and every finger is a toe

and any courage is a fear

—long enough and just so long

will the impure think all things pure

and hornets wail by children stung

or as the seeing are the blind

and robins never welcome spring

nor flatfolk prove their world is round

nor dingsters die at break of dong

and common’s rare and millstones float

—long enough and just so long

tomorrow will not be too late

worms are the words but joy’s the voice

down shall go which and up come who

breasts will be breasts thighs will be thighs

deeds cannot dream what dreams can do

—time is a tree(this life one leaf)

but love is the sky and i am for you

just so long and long enough

Kopiereg 1926, 1954, 1991 deur die Trustees van die E.E. Cummings Trust.

Bron: Complete Poems 1904-1962 ( Liveright Publishing Corporation, 1994 )

of waarheid reg en verkeerd kan verdra

of molshope gemaak kan word van berge

–lank genoeg en net só lank

sal syn die huur betaal van skyn

en genialiteit die talentboewe tevrede stel

en water ʼn aller-aanwakkerende vuur

netsoos kapstokke die perskebome in groei

of verwagtings beste dans op blesman-se-kop

en elke vinger is ʼn toon

en enige dapperheid ʼn vrees

–lank genoeg en net só lank

sal onedeles alle dinge dunk as rein

en perdebye tjank van kinder-steke

of soos die besiendes die blindes is

en rooiborsies lente nooit verwelkom nie

of die platmense nie kon bewys hulle aarde rond is nie

of die pleitmense nie sterf in beier-breek se gloed nie

en burgers s’n seldsaam  en meulstene dryf

–lank genoeg en net só lank

sal môre nie te laat wees nie

wurms is die woorde maar vreugde die stem

wat (welke) af sal gaan en wie kom op

ʼn boesem bly ʼn boesem en ʼn dy bly ʼn dy

dade kan nie droom wat drome kan doen nie

–tyd is ʼn boom (dié lewe een blaar)

maar liefde is die lug en ek is vir jou

net só lank en lank genoeg