Warning: This is a lazy post, where I will allow others to do all the work for me.
Ramya posted some scribbles a little while ago, and one section stuck in my mind. (Well, other parts did too, but this is the one I want to blog about.):
Ever notice how the simplest things are the hardest to articulate?
I will miss you
I love you
I do
But then again, the most precious moments are made up of things left unsaid.
One of the reasons it made such an impact was the way in which it relates to a favorite poem of mine. Unfortunately you will have to make do with my labored attempts at translation unless you read Afrikaans (or Dutch or Flemish).
I quoted the poet, Elisabeth Eybers before in the blog, the only Afrikaans poet to feature here. While I had always appreciated her, I had never thought of her as my favorite poet. Perhaps action speaks louder than words?
| Taalles Die eerste rededele wat mens leer voor drie jaar oud is lewenslank genoeg om die akuutste nood te formuleer soos: ek het honger ... hou van jou ... is moeg. Plots uit die soet ontmoeting weggeruk 'n Maand daarna -- want tyd bring raad -- hanteer | Grammar Lesson The first parts of speech we learn before the age of three suffice a lifetime to formulate our most acute of needs like: I am hungry ... like you ... am tired. Wrenched from the sweet meeting A month later -- time is a great tutor -- effortlessly |
Comments (3)
Reminds one of Stevens from Ishiguro's Remains of the Day - so much to say about things that don't matter so much and so little or nothing about the things that do.
Posted by D | June 27, 2005 5:26 AM
Posted on June 27, 2005 05:26
Oh, what an excellent observation. I hadn't made the connection, but it is wonderfully apt.
Posted by Sivani | June 27, 2005 3:44 PM
Posted on June 27, 2005 15:44
Love the translation of the poem...
Posted by RS | June 28, 2005 7:31 AM
Posted on June 28, 2005 07:31