8 august 2012
What I know about my dad is only a few things
What I know about my dad is only a few things,
eyes that radiates in seriousness,
he was sometimes strict but it was measured by love,
he was a god fearing man, but an Afrikaner
into the depths of his soul
and a teacher of history and Afrikaans
I remember his voice
reading the poems that he prepared
for post graduate studies in literature,
which made me get gooseflesh
from enjoyment
and so “early autumn,”
“the headless horseman”
“Maria” and “I will go to my father”
and many other poems
became to lie deep in my heart.
[References: “Vroegherfs” (Early autumn) by N.P. Van Wyk Louw, “Die ruiter van skimmelperdpan” (the horseman from skimmelperdpan) by A.G. Visser, “Maria” by Elisabeth Eybers and “Ek sal opstaan” (I will rise and go to my father) by W.E.G. Louw.]