Friday, 21 October 2022

Wilma Stockenström: 'Skeppend'

 



Skeppend 

 

Eendag toe hou die skepper 

sy skepping soos ’n kind ’n skoelapper 

op sy hand, en bibberend 

spalt die gebrandskilderde vlerke. 

Magtig die kleure wat gloei soos godhede 

 

gloei, oop, toe, met groot 

vertoon, die vlerke vir dag en nag. 

Die skepper voel nog die pootjies 

fyntjies op sy vingers en wonder 

oor wat hy vermag het: oopvou 

 

van ’n al, goudstofoortrekte lig, 

en soos skeppendes maar is, bedink 

hy, trots en nederig, nog ene, 

nog ’n lieflike ligsinnige vlinder, 

herhaaldelik, die ewigheid ter wille. 

 

 

Creating

 

One day the creator held

his creation like a child a butterfly

in his hand, and quivering

the enamelled wings parted.

Wondrous the colours that glowed as deities

 

glowed, open, shut, with great

display, the wings for day and night.

The creator still feels the small feet

delicately on his fingers and is astonished

at what he has been capable of: the unfolding

 

of an everything, gold-dust-covered light,

and as it is with creators, he

conceives, proud and humble, one more

one more such lovely, light-hearted butterfly,

repeatedly, for the sake of eternity.

 

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