The Fragile Song

Pieter Pieterse – a well-known author married

an English-woman*; together they traveled the

bush and Pieterse wrote it all down

Once they were setting up camp and his English

woman asked Pieterse to sing her ‘their’ song –

which he did - Now if you ever saw

Pieterse on TV and heard his raucous voice, you

would have been wondering too what kind of song

would such a man choose?

Then he sang an Afrikaans song* based on the German –

"Wie die Blümlein draussen zittern" – The flowers are

trembling outside -

In total contrast with his wild, unkempt appearance:

"Bly jy by my, beminde teer… Stay with me, Beloved

tenderly…" - somehow

The great gulf between big man and fragile song

increased the sweetness -

immeasurably!

* Die Ingilsman

* As die winter nader kruip - FAK

"Hoor die blomme en die blare bewend van die winter praat,

doodgedoemde martelare, siek en van die son verlaat, o bly

by my, beminde teer, dan bloei in my die somerblomme weer..."