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