Chris van der Westhuizen

Juffrou Groenie die draak
Dwing ons om gediggies te maak.
Die gediggie is aan jou
Jy sal, hoop ek, daarvan hou.

Adri jy is baie mooi, en slim daarby
Die seuns staan vir jou op 'n ry.
Jy kan sommer almal kies om te keis
Ek staan maar, al is ek laaste op jou lys.

Ek is baie skaam voor jou en jou ma.
Ek wil gaan kuier, maar is bang om te vra.
Ek wil ook lekker met jou gesels.
Ek wonder wat jy van my dink?

Adri jy is baie mooi, en baie slim
So slim soos Bennie Boekwurm.
Ek het 'n vraag, maar ek vrees.
Sal jy dalk ook my maatjie wees?

                              Chris M. v/d Westhuizen '1987 (Graad 6)

Nota: Ons het ’n baie kwaai juffrou gehad vir Afrikaans, genaamd Juffrou Groenewald. Ons was almal baie bang vir haar – haar bynaam was Groenie die Draak. Sy het ons egter van gedigte geleer en was hoogs in haar skik met myne. Adri was die mees gewilde meisie in ons skool, en almal het baie van haar gehou. Sy het ons hoofmeisie geword. Bennie Boekwurm was natuurlik die slim boekwurm uit die TV-reeks Wielie Walie, wat stories voorgelees het. Ek het die gedig verloor, maar toe ek ’n paar jaar gelede vir my kinders my skoolalbum wys, het dit skielik uit my St. 4 (Graad 6) rapport geval.

Adri Visser

Miss Greeny, the dragon so bright,
Force us to create poems with delight.
This poem is dedicated to you,
I hope, dear Adri, it will please you too.

Adri, you are beautiful, so clever and smart,
Boys line up, hoping to win your heart.
You have the power to choose from the crowd,
While I stand here, last on your list, feeling proud.

I feel shy in front of you and your mom,
I long to visit, but fear makes me calm.
I wish to have conversations so fine,
I wonder, Adri, what do you think of mine?

Adri, you are beautiful, and incredibly wise,
As clever as Bennie Bookworm, I surmise.
I have a question, but I'm afraid to confess,
Would you consider being my friend, no less?

                              Chris M. v/d Westhuizen '1987 (Grade 6 - Translated from Afrikaans)

Note: We had a very bad teacher for Afrikaans, called Miss Groenewald. We were all very afraid of her – her nickname was "Groenie die Draak" aka "Greeny the Dragon" directly translated to English. However, she taught us poems and was very happy with mine. Adri was the most popular girl in our school, and everyone liked her very much. She became our head girl. Bennie Boekwurm was of course the clever bookworm from the TV series Wielie Walie, who read stories. I lost the poem, but when I showed my children my school album a few years ago, it suddenly fell out of my St. 4 (Grade 6) report card.