Die Leemte / The Hollow (Afrikaans)

teen die bitter einde is die goudlig koud
en die rivierstroom is wel maar leeg,
selfs vloei dit aan.
kyk na my, kyk na die wakker maan –
die oseaan beantwoord hom
met die slaapende swel van branders
wat self vlug van die duisternis in die dieper see.
 
waarheen jy gaan is dit seker droog,
en hier waar jy verlaat los jy ons in droogte.
loop vat jy dan die reenbui saam;
net toe al ons blomme wil-wil wou bloei?
durf jy? verstaan jy – ons kort reen.
 
was ons gekul?
elke drupel was in bietjies en getel,
maar wat kan ons verwag?
ons het god al lank verlaat.
 
en nou die bitter einde...
ag, ons ken die eindelose kaalheid van die veld,
en die fynbos wat elke sewe jaar moet brand.

Translation:
 
at this bitter ending the sunlight grows cold
and the river’s stream carries nothing,
even as it flows.
look at me, look at the waking moon –
the ocean returns his call
with the sleeping swell of waves,
even them who flee the deeper gloom below.
 
it must be dry where you are headed,
and you’re leaving us in the middle of a drought.
are you packing up the rain as well;
and just then when our blossoms would have bloomed?
dare you? do you understand – we need rain.
 
were we fooled?
every droplet was but little and each counted,
but what could we expect?
we had forsaken god long ago.
 
and now at this bitter ending...
oh, we know the endless nudity of the veld,
and the fynbos that must burn every seven years.