Two poems by Ronelda S. Kamfer

Entitlement

all i wanted to retain

was the blue of the sea

the green of winter

the yellow of the sun

the distance of the moon

the water of rain

the sound of the wind

my place behind mother’s back

Worse things than alone

when the fruit  was harvested

and the countryside dry and meagre

when the ground was good

and the summer sun burnt

you sweet and tough

there was always a tree that

grew out of season

my grandpa said

we call it jealousy

for it grows in the emptiest garden

it bears the loveliest fruit
and gets the most sun

To see the original poems in Afrikaans, go to here