hier, die land | here, this land

hier, die land   

as ek kon sou ek vir jou klank   
spit waarin jy lug kan skep

waarin jy ons uitmekaar-stotende   
arms kan verhaal                 

want jy is die aanmekaarbinder   

as ek kon sou ek vir jou woorde     
voer waarmee jy grond kon plant    

waarin jy ons ontvoer-grypende     
hande kan vertaal                        

want jy is die digby mekaar binder   

en tog kan ek nie                                         
want jy het ons nie nodig nie               

skedel van my tong                         
wat sink, kraak, krummel                        

midde ongeken                                       

jy is my asemgewer                                       
en ek ken geen ander                                 
behalwe jy                                                 

hoe sal ek jou kan omhaal          
in hierdie af                                            
dolwende bloedstortende               
gemaal                                         

ons ken geen ander                    

jy is ons ineenryger van asem                  
jy is ons ineensnoerder van stem         
jy is ons ineen alomheen               

here, this land

if i could i would shovel sound for you
wherein you could create air

wherein you could repair our
apart pushing arms

because you are the together binder

if i could i would feed you words
with which you could plant earth

wherein our grasping and unfeeding
hands could be translated

because you are the near to each other binder

and yet i cannot
because you do not need us

skull of my tongue
sinking, cracking, crumbling

midst unknowing

you are my breath giver
and i know no other
except you

how will i be able to round you
in this downwards
ddigging blood spilling
whirl

we know no other

you are the together stringer of breath
jyou are the together corder of voice
you are the togetherer of our whereness