CHAMELIONS AND WATERMELONS
One foot forward, pause a sec
Two foot forward, pause and check
Googley green goggles, round and round spies.
Slow reptilian eyes spots garden boy who in great excitement cries.
"deez aaah, aah, what seh in Ingish...?"
The garden boy tried words to distinguish.
Runs right round the yard to Stan.
Stan was his large employer man.
"Meester Stan, deez aaah?", inquired the boy.
Big stan sat in his big chair, and smiled with big joy.
He gave a big thought, pondered a little while
"My dear man, that is a watermelon", said he with a big smile.
The garden boy listened with intrigued intent.
Exclaiming to chamelion in a rough English accent.
"yuu, yuu aaah Wa-tah-meh-lohn!!!"
Beside himself bolted excited over the lawn.
Inside a pet store
Trying to sell watermellons for a few pennies more.
The garden boy tried to explain
But never seemed to understand, that chamelions and watermelons are now the same.
Wie waak oor ons gans die wakkernag?
Vind sondes.lank vergete
n aanklag eggo in die gewete
Dalk net stank demone
Wat slaaploos toi-toi in talle drome
Watter wekker skrik sy meester kaal
Wyl hy rondtol.in n lakenhel?
Skape, pennies en sy woorde tel
Of plak gebede saam met drome vas
Teen blank plafonne en die linnekas?
En ook skimme wat eens mense was
n vingerskrif op die klagstaat straf
Ander sluimer niksbeduidend
Wereld werk nog steeds misleidend
Introspeksie hou het geen verband
Onwelkom het net ingekom
Soos infeksie in n agtertand
Prokureur teem onbeholpe
'k kort n advokaat
n leuenverklikker wat moet wèèt waarvan hy praat
Opgetof en opgetoga en n omkoopmagistraat
Sinies en insomnies
naghof ronddool in n doodloopstraat
Wie sake uitgooi maar dan skelm uitstel
Weereens more ons beroof van geld en slaap
Die Marionet
Daar voor op die verhoog
So ewe droog.
Die Marionet
Met die Meester se stem
So, asof getem.
Die Marionet
Geen wil van sy eie
Het hy ‘n getuie?
Die Marionet?
Hy dans darem en sing
Hy is ‘n snaakse ding.
Jy weet mos
Aan toutjie van gena’
Niks wat hom pla
Moet ek weer?
Met die meester se mag
Het almal gelag
Vir die pop
As die vertoning verby is
Opgesluit in ‘n kis...
DIE MARIONET
I ride my “Women Inspired” Schwinn up to my friend’s path.
My bike is magenta and the path is chartreuse,
Swathed by the spent spring buds of a tree.
I see Mister, who I call “Meester the Dog!”
My friend slides her door open,
Mister jumps to greet me.
He is like a little, bright, brown pierogi,
Boiling between my friend and I like we were the sides of a kettle.
He is so happy, he pees on the patio and we smile and laugh.
I see my friend standing by the door,
And her great chocolate eyes and effulgent smile,
So comfortable in her soft grey top and her soft grey pants.
So comfortable in her skin.
We talk of the mundane, of money, the funny,
Tigers and Appleby’s, bogies and birdies.
We are absolutely ourselves in each other’s company
And she gives me delicious tea.
I put my magenta bike into the wind,
Pedaling happily home.
I love this woman.
Tomorrow many will observe a resurrection.
The holy will stand in church and celebrate the power of a god.
Today I stood on a bud strewn path.
Today I saw my friend.
Today I saw the sacred.
Today I celebrate.