Versindaba kompetisie vir vertaalde gedigte (42)
e.e. cummings. Vertaling van Engels in Afrikaans. Vert. deur Eduan Naudé.
mag ek voel sê hy
mag ek voel sê hy
(ek sal gil sê sy
net vir nou sê hy)
dis lekker sê sy
(mag ek vat sê hy
hoeveel sê sy
baie sê hy)
ja wat sê sy
(kom ons gaan sê hy
nie te ver sê sy
wat’s te ver sê hy
waar jy is sê sy)
mag ek bly sê hy
(hoe dan sê sy
soos dit sê hy
as jy soen sê sy
mag ek skuif sê hy
is dit liefde sê sy)
as jy wil sê hy
(maar jy sondig sê sy
dis die lewe sê hy
maar jou vrou sê sy
nou sê hy)
eina sê sy
(hemels sê hy
hou aan sê sy
ag nee sê hy)
stadig sê sy
(kkkoomm?sê hy
ummm sê sy)
jy is perfek!sê hy
(jy is Myne sê sy)
***
may i feel said he
E.E. Cummings
may i feel said he
(i’ll squeal said she
just once said he)
it’s fun said she
(may i touch said he
how much said she
a lot said he)
why not said she
(let’s go said he
not too far said she
what’s too far said he
where you are said she)
may i stay said he
(which way said she
like this said he
if you kiss said she
may i move said he
is it love said she)
if you’re willing said he
(but you’re killing said she
but it’s life said he
but your wife said she
now said he)
ow said she
(tiptop said he
don’t stop said she
oh no said he)
go slow said she
(cccome?said he
ummm said she)
you’re divine!said he
(you are Mine said she)
Bronverwysing:
Cummings, e.e. (G. J. Firmage, Ed.) 1994. may i feel said he. Complete Poems: 1904-1962. New York: Liveright.
Oor die klankmatige relevansie van die digter se van by die eksplisisiete waardering van hierdie teks moet ek miskien niks sê nie. Maar anders as met spinasie, is sy herkoms waarskynlik heilig.