Robin Winckel-Mellish – Our Alignment/Ons Rigtingslyn

Our Alignment
by Robin Winckel-Mellish

I shall walk from lighthouse
to lighthouse, from Danger Point

to Pearly Beach, across the long open stretch
where two oceans meet. I will stop

to remember: The Barry, Star of the Isles,
Trevelyn and The Lord Hawkesbury,

so many ships wrecked and rusting.
I will learn the impossible language

of birds and whales, dig
the Khoisan middens* to find signs

of your presence. We shall meet, of course,
your warm shadow in the light on the water,

its beam shining full circle.

*An ancient deposit containing shells

Ons Rigtingslyn

Ek sal stap van vuurtoring
na vuurtoring, van Danger Point

na Pearly Beach, oor die lang oop uitgestrektheid
waar twee oseane byeenkom. Ek sal stilstaan

om te onthou: The Barry, Star of the Isles,
Trevelyn en The Lord Hawkesbury,

so veel skepe gestrand en wat roes.
Ek sal die onmoontlike taal

van voëls en walvisse leer, delf in
die Khoisan ashope om tekens op te spoor

van jou teenwoordigheid. Ons sal mekaar ontmoet, natuurlik,
jou warme skadu in die lig op die water,

‘n straal wat vol sirkel skyn.

Translation by Anneke Regout and Tabitha du Plessis
Vertaling deur Anneke Regout en Tabitha du Plessis