SONGS OF THE BLUE CRANE (poem) - Antjie Krog - South Africa

LIEDERE VAN DIE BLOUKRAANVOËL

(dit is die bloukraanvoël se storie wat hy sing; hy sing van sy skouer, dat die bessies van die krieboom (kareeboom) op sy skouer is; hy loop terwyl hy sing:)

I

die bessies is op my skouer
die bessies is op my skouer
die bessies, dis op my skouer
die bessies is op my skouer
die bessies is hier, bó (op my skouer)
Rrrú is hier bo
die bessies is hier bó
rrrú is hier bó
is hier bó
die bessies rrú is gebêre (op my skouer)

II

(terwyl hy vir ’n mens weghardloop)
’n splinter van klip wat wit is
’n splinter van klip wat wit is
’n splinter van klip wat wit is

III

(terwyl hy stadig loop, rustig en in vrede loop)
’n wit klip splinter
’n wit klip splinter

IV

(as hy sy vlerke klap)
skraap (die springbokvel vir) ’n bed
skraap (die springbokvel vir) ’n bed
     Rrrrú rrra
     Rrrú rrra
     Rrú rra

SONGS OF THE BLUE CRANE

(//Kabbo sings the blue crane’s story; he sings over his shoulder that the berries of the karee tree are on his shoulder; he sings as he walks)

I

the berries are on my shoulder
the berries are on my shoulder
the berries, they’re on my shoulder
the berries are on my shoulder
the berries are here, above (on my shoulder)
Rrrú is here above
the berries are here above
rrrú is here above
is here above
the berries rrú are safe (on my shoulder)

II

(while he is running away from someone)
a splinter of stone that’s white
a splinter of stone that’s white
a splinter of stone that’s white

III

(while he is walking slowly, calmly and at a steady pace)
a white stone splinters
a white stone splinters

IV

(when he flaps his wings)
scrape (the springbok for) a bed
scrape (the springbok for) a bed
     Rrrrú rrra
     Rrrú rrra
     Rrú rra

Poet's Note: According to //Kabbo, the blue crane describes his own white-feathered head, which has the form of a splintered stone. The Bushmen made stone tools for the hunt and for use as cutting implements.