Just a thought....
Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

Friday, 25 October 2013

A wanderer’s prayer

I have a vast playlist that I put onto random, so I never know what type of music will come up next while I’m working. There’s nothing like a random upbeat song to perk you up when you’d normally click on a sad song or the penny-drop moment when an inspirational song plays and gives you food for thought you weren’t aiming for. Just as I was coming in to have some lunch, this song came up. It’s in Afrikaans, so I’ve written out the lyrics (hopefully correctly!) and translated them to the best of my ability, keeping in mind that poetry doesn’t always lend itself to translation.

I want to dedicate this to my dearest friend and fellow ‘swerwer’, Felicity. It would have been your birthday today. Amanda Strydom reminds me so much of you. You were there alongside me for much of that path I was on and knew my dragons. I miss you.

Pelgrimsgebed by Amanda Strydom

vader god, u ken my naam
my binnegoed en my buite staan
my grootpraat en my klein verdriet
my vashou aan alles wat verskiet
u ken my vrese en my hoop
die pad wat ek so kaalvoet loop
die pad het u lankal berei
u maak die pad gelyk vir my

alle pelgrims keer weer huis toe
elke swerwer kom weer tuis
ek verdwaal steeds op die groot pad
soekend na u bordinghuis

moeder god u ken my waan
my ego en my regopstaan
die drake waarteen ek bly en veg
u wys my altyd weer die weg
u het my met u lug geseen
die lug stroei ek oor ieder een
net u weet hoe my toekoms lyk
ek het niks, u maak my ryk

alle pelgrims keer weer huis toe
elke swerwer kom weer tuis
ek verdwaal steeds op die groot pad
soekend na u bordinghuis

alle pelgrims keer weer huis toe
elke swerwer kom weer tuis
ek verdwaal steeds op die groot pad
soekend na u bordinghuis

father god, you know my name
my inner self and my outward stance
my big talk and my little grief
my clinging to all that fades
you know my fears and my hopes
the path i walk barefoot
this path you prepared long ago
you smooth this path for me

all pilgrims head home again
each wanderer returns home
i’m still lost on the great path
looking for your boarding house 

mother god you know my delusions
my ego and my standing tall
the dragons that i stay and fight
you always show me the way again
you blessed me with your light
this light i spread to everyone
you know what my future holds
i have nothing, you make me rich

all pilgrims head home again
each wanderer returns home
i’m still lost on the great path
looking for your boarding house

all pilgrims head home again
each wanderer returns home
i’m still lost on the great path
looking for your boarding house

2 comments:

  1. I love the poem. Will listen to the music later, it is bedtime here.

    ReplyDelete
  2. PS listening to the song. Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete

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