Versindaba kompetisie vir vertaalde gedigte (94)
Lucas Malan. Vertaling van Afrikaans in Engels. Vert. deur Marieta McGrath.
Wary
Where someone dies, the sky tears,
the hour gasps and sighs: it’s
past. A door opens, the walls tremble
and somewhere a bird will tumble –
The day makes room, unobtrusively,
and trees bow in contemplation, flee
into their earthiness, again turn green,
to line the shady lanes and fields.
You’d barely notice by the trees or sky
when someone dies, a room is made
vacant, when like a sheet the pre-dawn tears –
but listen how it happens everywhere:
***
Lugtig
Lucas Malan
Waar iemand doodgaan, skeur die lug,
snak die uur na asem en dit sug: ver-
by. ‘n Deur gaan oop, die mure skud
en iewers gaan ‘n voël neerstort –
Die dag ruim plek in, ongemerk,
en bome buig in nabetragting, vlug
hul aardsheid binne, word weer groen
‘n laning langs ‘n landery of straat.
Jy sou dit skaars aan lug of bome merk
as iemand doodgaan, stiptelik ‘n bed ont-
ruim, die voordag soos ‘n laken skeur –
maar luister hoe dit oral oor gebeur:
Bronverwysing:
Brink, André P. (Samesteller). Groot Verseboek. 2008. Kaapstad: Tafelberg (p. 898).