LL-L "Literature" 2009.02.20 (06) [A/E]

[Lowlands-L List]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 20 February 2009 - Volume 06
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Literature

Folks,

Our (South African) Mark tried to entice us with one of his Afrikaans poems:



*VIR EWIG EVA*



Die slang, die lustigste ter diere

begenader Eva, met blink geskubbe spiere,

"Wat sssê jy van daai boom ssse vrug,

Die Boom van die Lewe, ssso gerug?"



"Wat vra jy vir my," vra sy,

"wat self gereeld daaronder wei?

En hoekom - ek het self gewaar -

kruip jy jou vel uit aanmekaar?"



"Dit isss my gegun," sê hy,

"met my bepaalde lot verby

mag ek my erdelike deel afssskil.

Ssso ook kan Eva asss sssy wil!"



" 'n Pes aan hy," sê Eva kras,

"wat vullis rondstrooi op die gras!"

Dit is van toentertyd tot nou

haar ding om Eden skoon te hou.



And he succeeded. Below is my English version with just minimal channeling
of Mr. McGonagall:

 *FOREVER EVE*



The snake, the jolliest of creatures,
charmed Eve, scaly muscles his main features,
"Sssee that tree'zzz fruit? What sssay you, pray?
The Tree of Life, or ssso they sssay."

Asked she, "Why ask *me*, huh? Hey, you tell *me*,
You that hangs out beneath that tree!
And why, with all the dust and grime,
Slide on your belly all the time?"

Said he, "It izzz my gift, and it izzz great,
That, when I'm done with thisss my fate,
I may ssslip it off, and I'll be through,
And, if you wishshsh, Eve, ssso may you."

Said crassly Eve, "A pox on you!
You foul the grass with serpents' poo!"
This is her way, has always been,
Her way of keeping Eden clean.


Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

•

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