Fyntameryn (& Translation)

Woorde wat beelde optower
mooier as enige werklikheid,
die perdedief se hartstogtelike
fluistering:

Danster, my glanster; opgeskik,
strikversier - mooimeisieperd,
fyntrapper, so fyntameryn
as kan kom

Terg my tong met ‘n ritrympie,
‘n swartblesperd met flougrys
pens - magiese perdebeelde
opgetower

Vurige kopervos reun en ‘n
blinkvosperd, sweetvosbles,
bruinskimmel, boknekperd,
asblou hings

Die perdedief wat ‘n perd tem
met ongekende woordekuns,
gulsbek, gliplyf, hooghart,
graniethart

In soete verrukking lees ek van
geelpiete in manteljasse en ‘n
klapklappie se dun fluitnootjie,
klokkiesgras, blarelower

En ‘n fyngetakte bos; so
fyntameryn - as kan
kom!

Aanhalings uit “Die Perdedief” HJ Vermaas,
Tafelberg Uitgewers, 1974, pp.1 – 41

“Fyntameryn” As Fine as Can Be

Words conjuring images
more beautiful than reality
the horsethief passionately
whispering:

Dancer, all aglow with ribbons
and bows – a ladies’ horse,
high-stepping, as fine as
can be

Teasing with a tongue-twister,
a black dappled horse and
grey also – magical images
of horses

A fiery copper stallion, a dark
chestnut and bright bay horse,
a brown roan, ‘boknekperd’ and
grey sorrel

The horsethief taming a horse
with strange, bewitching terms,
slippery guttler, His Haughty
Highness

Enraptured I read about yellow
finches in shiny mantles and the
reedy note of the ‘klapklappie’,
lady’s heart grass

Green foliage and lacy twigs, as
fine as can be!

Based on quotes from “The Horsethief”
HJ Vermaas, Tafelberg Publishing,
1974, pp. 1-41

‘boknekperd’ – unknown kind of horse