Melanie Botes

Melanie Botes

My Taal
Afrikaans, my reënboogtaal.
My sprokiesland se kleurpastel;
Van woude groen en kappies rooi;
En skoene goud van meisies mooi;
Van prinse op hul hingste wit;
Van wolwe en ‘n geel strooi-hut.

Afrikaans, my hartetaal
Wat wip-wip lag - emosievol -
Wat spring en dans, wat ween en frons,
Wat wonder hoe ons harte bons.
My taal wat ver kan vlieg en sweef
En dié beskryf wat voluit leef.

Afrikaans, my Moedertaal.
My hart is sag, my wil is staal.
Jy’t my gebaar, my ingeseën.
My diep geplant en natgereën.
Nou kom die tyd dat ek moet staan
En toesien dat jy voortbestaan.

Afrikaans, my lieflingtaal.
Staan vas teen hierdie taalaanval.
Soek jou reënboog, soek sy punt.
Laat waai jou woorde in die wind.
Vul ons lewens met jou kleur.
Laat ons vir ewig jou vereer!

(terug)

Windows
Views through a window
of what might have been.
Nothing more than
a glimpse of a scene.
Seeing the maybe,
the what-if, the dream.
Wondering how,
when my soul starts to scream.

I yearn for the scene
through the window, the dream.
I long for the what-if,
that what-might-have-been.
I want to belong
on that side of the screen,
as I beat on the door
that might lead to my dream.

(terug)

Jou Verwerp
Jou spitswoorde
van yster en glas
skeur my hart,
sny my siel.

Jou maalkolk sluk
my gedagtes in,
verdrink my wese –
my lag, my huil.

My roepkreet val
op droeë grond,
verlep, verdor,
deur jou verwerp.

My swak verweer
– verbreuk, verskeur –
kan nie keer
wat ek nie ken.

(terug)

Vlug Van My Hart
Jou hande vou sag
Om die muur van my hart
En smelt dit soos was in jou vlam.
Jou glimlag skyn suiwer.
Ek wag nog; ek huiwer;
Dan neem jy my siel met jou saam.

My hart sweef so hoog
Bo die aarde se boog,
Die sterre is tasbaar naby.
Dan eindig die vlug
En jy draai net jou rug.
Die vrae; is als nou verby?

Jou beeld kompeteer
Met die nag in my siel
Om die lig van my hart weg te steel
My wese verslete,
Geskeur deur die wete;
Ons twee was tog nooit ‘n geheel.

(terug)

My Lonely Road
Broken promises.
Perfect lies.
No one knows
My heart has died.
You’re the one
Of long ago!
Who can ever
Really know?
You have taken
All that’s true;
Stolen that
Which pleases you.
You don’t care
Just what you do.
You just want
It all for you

In this dark
And hollow place,
All that’s in
My mind I face.
Through this torture
I must go,
Seeds of strength
And courage sow.
I must face it
All alone.
No one can
My failure own.
When at last
I do succeed,
You won’t be
The one I need.

(terug)

Then And Now
Then I could not see the truth.
Now I’m blind beyond belief.
Then I wanted none but you.
Now I’m wanting nothing new.
Then you told me to hold on.
Now I’m holding on too long.
Then you left me on my own.
Now, once more, I’m all alone.

Then the pain consumed my all.
Now my heart, again, is raw.
Then the darkness stole my light.
Now there’s nothing here but night.
Then my tortured heart cried out.
Now my soul joins in the fight.
Then you took my heart from me.
Now I find I’m still not free.

(terug)