Chris van der Westhuizen

Die kreun van
stemme wat verlore raak
in stofgange van rooi.
Dis ons mense wat hul bloed
vergiet het om ander te betaam.

En nou -
waar het dit ons gebring?

Moeders wat hul seuns verloor het,
vrouens hul mans,
en kinders hul vaders
net so aan die dood afgestaan.

En nou -
waar het dit ons gebring?

                              Chris M. v/d Westhuizen '2002

Nota:
Hoewel baie van die oorloë wat ons mense gevoer het tragies en pynlik was, het dit ook 'n sterk kultuur, taal en nasionale identiteit tot gevolg gehad. Dit het gemeenskappe verenig, vooruitgang gestimuleer, en ’n nalatenskap nagelaat van deursettingsvermoë en vindingrykheid en geloof. Al is die land in 1994 vreedsaam oorgegee, was die pad tot daardie punt nie verniet nie.

War

The groan of
voices that vanish
in corridors of dust and red.
It’s our people who shed their blood
to serve the sake of others.

And now -
where has it brought us?

Mothers who lost their sons,
women their husbands,
and children their fathers
handed over to death, just like that.

And now -
where has it brought us?

                              Chris M. v/d Westhuizen '2002 (Translated from Afrikaans)

Note:
While many of the wars our people have fought have been tragic and painful, they have also resulted in a strong culture, language and national identity. They have united communities, stimulated progress, and left a legacy of perseverance and ingenuity and faith. Although the country was peacefully surrendered in 1994, the journey to that point was not in vain.