streetwise: THE MADCAP DANCE

THE MADCAP DANCE
© Farouk Asvat

The madcap dance

Of the blackjacks
In the wind
Is the everyday dance
Of the swanky gangsters
In the ghettoes

The burnt trunks

Of the tall bluegums
In the sun
Is the hungry weeping
Of the lean children
Languishing in the land

And the veldfire

That lights up
Our souls in winter
Is the black stubble
That pricks our hearts
Waiting for summer

translated into english by farouk asvat: 2006 [Johannesburg, South Africa under new apartheid]

[] Acknowledgements:

The Madcap Dance was previously published in:

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p81, 2006).

____________________________________________________________
[] WIETIE WHAT-WHAT

DIE MALTRAP DANS

Die maltrap dans

Vannie wewenaarsgras
Innie wind
Issie alledagse dans
Van die spoggerigge majietas
Innie 'kasies

Die gebrande stompe

Vannie bloekombome
Innie son
Issie honger tjankery
Vannie skraal kinners
Treurig innie land

Ennie veldbrand

Wat ons siele verlig
Innie winter
Issie swart stoppel
Wat ons harte prikkel,
Wagtend op somer

original composed: 1995 [Johannesburg, South Africa under new apartheid]

[] Acknowledgements:

Die Maltrap Dans was previously published in:

Bra Frooks … (piquant publications, p37, 2006).

Bra Frooks is ...

                                [] nes 'n skollie
                                [] 'n egte skollie
                                [] 'n waare joster
                                [] 'n tsotsi
                                [] a real scamp
                                [] streetwise
                                [] the jokerman

Bra Frooks ...

                                [] praat soos 'n skollie
                                [] wietie soos 'n joster
                                [] wietie what-what
                                [] tunes like a durbanite
                                [] speaks like an englishman

Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

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without the prior permission of the author in writing.
Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.
Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly purposes,
is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

farouk asvat can be contacted at: farouk.asvat@gmail.com

[] please check out my blogs @:

farouk asvat : poems

faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com/

WEAPONS OF WORDS

faroukasvat-viewpoint.blogspot.com/

streetwise

faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com/

piquant publications: BOOKS by FAROUK ASVAT

piquantpublications.blogspot.com/

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