By die robot in Eerstelaan - Marita van Aswegen Flashcards
Poem
By die robot in Eerstelaan
Marita van Aswegen
At the robot in First Avenue
Stanza 1
twee pare voete girts oor die teer
sy arm en nek is so styf en seer
sy bene so lam van gister se staan
ingehaak volg hy gedwee waar hulle gaan
Stanza 1
two pairs of feet scrape over the tar
his arm and neck are so stiff and sore
his legs so lame from yesterday’s standing
arms linked he follows obediently where they go
Stanza 2
motors se band knars tot stilstand
in die blikkie klingel vyf sent en ʼn rand
hy ruik die vis-en-tjipswinkel van eerstelaan
hier by die robot waar hy die dag omstaan
Stanza 2
car tyres grind to a halt
in the tin five cents and a rand clink
he smells the fish and chips shop in first avenue
here at the robot where he stands all day
Stanza 3
sy arm word gepluk en geruk en hy skrik
toe sy voet oor ʼn pyp eenkant toe swik
“ons beter geld kry, of ek los jou hier,”
sis die tsotsi en sy asem ruik na bier
Stanza 3
his arm gets jerked and pulled and he gets a fright
when awkwardly his foot stumbles one side over a pipe
“we better get money, otherwise I’ll leave you here,”
hisses the tsotsi and his breath smells like beer
Stanza 4
sy hart klop vinnig soos dié van ʼn bang kind
hoe sal hy weer sy lêplek van hier af kan vind?
die verkeerslig klik en die enjins brul saam
sy dowwe oë bewend opwaarts geslaan
Stanza 4
his heart beats as fast as a scared child
how will he find the place where he lies from here?
the traffic light clicks and the engines growl together
his dull eyes turning upwards
Stanza 5
trieng, trieng lui ʼn fiets se klokkie
hy buk af en trek aan sy stukkende sokkie
die verkeerslig klik en bande skuur oor teer
sy arm en skouer is so styf en seer
Stanza 5
tring, tring rings a bicycle bell
he bends down and pulls at his broken sock
the traffic light clicks and the tyres scrape over the tar
his arm and shoulder are so stiff and sore
Stanza 6
ʼn motorruit tjier af en ver weg dreun ʼn bus
as die dood hom tog net wil kom haal
dan kan hy vir ewig en altyd rus
die tsotsi skraap sy keel en spoeg ʼn straal
Stanza 6
a car window squeals open and far away a bus groans
if only death would come and take him
then he could rest forever and ever
the tsotsi clears his throat and spits out a stream
Stanza 7
geld klingel in die blikkie en lê dan stil
die duiwe koer en ʼn kindjie jil
“mammie hy’s blind,” piep ʼn dogtertjie sag
hy draai sy kop skuins en hy wag
Stanza 7
money jingles in the tin and then lies still
the doves coo and a child cries out with pleasure
“mommy he’s blind,” the little girl pipes softly
he turns his head away and waits
Stanza 8
“hier is nog tien rand,” sê die vrou
“koop vir jou iets om aan te kou”
die verkeerslig klik en hy hou aan met wag
die tsotsi pluk hom aan sy seer arm en lag
Stanza 8
“here is another ten rand,” the woman says
“buy something for yourself to eat,”
the traffic light clicks and he continues waiting
the tsotsi tugs his sore arm and laughs
AGTERGROND / Background
☺Marita van Aswegen werk deeltyds as maatskaplike werkster met kinders in nood.
☺Sy het al baie ellende gesien en ervaar.
☺Veral waar mense sonder gewete kinders en mense wat hulpeloos is, misbruik.
☺Kinders en die natuur inspireer haar. ☺
☺Sy skryf oor dinge wat sy daagliks sien en ervaar. ☺ ☺Haar stories het dikwels ʼn groot stuk werklikheid.
☺Marita van Aswegen works part-time as a social worker with children in need.
☺She has witnessed and experienced a lot of suffering, especially in cases where people without conscience abuse children and vulnerable individuals.
☺Children and nature inspire her.
☺She writes about things she sees and experiences daily.
☺Her stories often contain a strong element of reality.
ALGEMENE INLIGTING – BEDELAARS
Bedelaars se omstandighede is uniek. Bedelaars kan in drie groepe verdeel word:
❖ Die tradisionele bedelaar.
❖ Die bedelaar by die robot.
❖ Die bedelaar wat van huis-tot-huis bedel.
Dit is belangrik om nie vir bedelaars geld te gee nie.
❖ Ondersteun eerder organisasies in jou omgewing wat dienste aan haweloses lewer.
❖ Hierdie organisasies kry nie geld van die staat nie en moet self geld insamel om die haweloses te help. ❖ Ondersteun hulle deur vir hulle kos en tweedehandse klere te skenk.
❖ Jy kan ook as vrywilliger werk.
General Information – Beggars
Beggars’ circumstances are unique. Beggars can be divided into three groups:
❖ The traditional beggar.
❖ The beggar at the traffic light.
❖ The beggar who goes door-to-door.
It is important not to give money to beggars.
❖ Rather support organizations in your area that provide services to the homeless.
❖ These organizations do not receive money from the state and must raise funds themselves to help the homeless.
❖ Support them by donating food and second-hand clothing.
❖ You can also volunteer to work with them.
Tema
Tema: ʼn Mens is dikwels aan ander se genade oorgelewer.
❖ ʼn Blinde man word deur ʼn tsotsi gedwing om te bedel.
❖ Hy vat hom tot by die verkeerslig en dreig om hom nie terug te vat na sy slaapplek toe as hy nie vir hulle geld bedel nie.
❖ Hy vat die geld wat die mense vir die ou blinde bedelaar gee.
Theme: A person is often at the mercy of others.
❖ A blind man is forced to beg by a thug.
❖ The thug takes him to the traffic light and threatens not to take him back to his sleeping place if he doesn’t beg for money for them.
❖ He takes the money that people give to the old blind beggar.
Stemming
Stemming = Neerdrukkend
Mood = Depressing
The mood of the poem is heavy and bleak, reflecting the despair and helplessness of the blind beggar’s situation and his dependence on the mercy of others, especially the thug who exploits him.
TIPOGRAFIE
Uiterlike bou
Uiterlike bou = agt strofes – vier versreëls elk (kwatryn).
Outer structure: The poem consists of eight stanzas, each with four lines (quatrain).
Vaste rymskema: Paarrym
❖ Behalwe strofe 6 = kruisrym.
❖ Funksie van rymskema: Dit beeld die blinde se daaglikse bedelroetine uit, waaruit hy nie kan ontsnap.
There is a fixed rhyme scheme: couplets (aabb)
❖ Except for stanza 6, which follows a cross rhyme (abab).
❖ Function of the rhyme scheme: It reflects the blind beggar’s daily begging routine, from which he cannot escape.
TIPOGRAFIE
Innerlike bou
Innerlike bou = Daar is progressie.
❖ Die inhoud van die gedig skep vir ons ʼn prentjie van hoe die dag vir die bedelaar verloop.
❖ Atmosfeer word geskep deur progressie en die sintuiglike waarneming.
Inner structure: There is progression.
❖ The content of the poem creates a picture of how the day unfolds for the beggar.
❖ Atmosphere is created through this progression and sensory observations.
