as ek moed gehad het/ if I had the courage

Afrikaans poem

soms wens ek ek het die moed gehad

sou jou alles vertel wat ek wou

jy sou nie net nog 'n geheim

weggesteek in my hart wees nie

maar ongelukkig is jy

 

as ek die moed gehad het

sou die seer nie so binne in my bly nie

jou lelike woorde sou net so terug gegooi word

jy sou dit onthou

 

ek weet nie of ek jou sou wegstoot

of nader trek nie

dalk is dit 'n goeie ding dat ek geen moed het nie

as ek gehad het

sou ek nie wees wie en wat ek vandag is nie

 

sometimes I wish I had the courage

would tell you everything that I wanted to

you would not just be a secret

hid in my heart

but unfortunately you are


if I had the courage

the hurt wouldn't stay inside me

your ugly words would likewise be thrown back at you

you would remember it


I do not know if I would chase you away

or draw near

maybe it's a good thing that I have no courage

if I had

I would not be who and what I am today

Reviews

[smilempsn]

Aahaan.. Two language poem..

Nice one Adri.. :)

[zainul]

Amazing write.
Enjoyed reading.

[Astro]

A very personal piece that has applications in society as a whole I think. How we are labeled one thing or another, some good some bad, but we do nothing about it, for fear of ostracizing ourselves or ending up as part of a group we aren't always happy to be associated with. I know it was an Africaans translation, but the 4th from last line to me seemed like it could have been written slightly clearer with different grammar. ie "or draw near" I would add the word "you" in between "draw/near". Good work on the translation and poem either way. The form was very nice.

[Simon Welsh]

Brilliant! I love the juxtaposition of languages.

[Zero_Edge88]

"The beauty of language written differently in the words of our heart is one that never ceases the soul. For what one might say in another language another will portray to a sound of their own. Such beauty is indicated and filled with emotions like no other."

"For what is courage in the heart but bravery in the soul when we face the adversary known as truth. This is the human feeling of our life that changes. We must learn to take up courage as we are asked to stand what we live for everyday. This is a life we must learn to adapt and no matter what it will change us for better or for worse." :)

Thank you for the request! Have a beautiful rest of your week :)

[Archangel Gabriel]

Ok a little crude and in need of revision but full of pathos

[Baby Ricochet]

"What about a Hippopotamus? I'd whip him from top to bottomus." What about a Rhinoceros? I'd show him who's king of the forest." A few lines from the cowardly Lion about courage from the Wizard of Oz. You know I've never seen that movie and yet I know stuff from it. That kind of annoys me. Anyway, good poem. At least the English part was.

[Coyote Poetry]

I like to see the poem written in Afrikaans. Good to be able to write and speak many languages. I like the poem also. Secret emotion and desire leave us wishing to be braver. Thank you for the excellent poetry.
Coyote