Huisbesoek

Toe ons officiere in die ou dae kom kuier het,
Het ons in die kombuis saamgesit
Om geselskap met koffie en beskuit te geniet,
En ma het ‘n ruk ophou vee
Terwyl ons saam uit die bybel lees
En die seening van die Allemagtig ontvang het.
 
Maar deesdae is ons almal te besig
Om eers ‘n paar minute in die voorkamer te sit,
En ons is gelukkig as daar tog iemand tuis is
As hy huisbesoek per telefoon doen.
Wie gaan dan kla dat die seening
Met ons koffie en beskuit verdwyn het?
 
September 1974

After spending a weekend with the Eva family on their farm near Mazabuka


Home Visit 

In days long ago, when our officers used to visit,

We sat together in the kitchen

Sharing conversation over coffee and rusks

And mum stopped her cleaning briefly

While we read the bible together 

And received the blessing of the Almighty 

 

But these days we’re all too busy

To sit together in the front room for even a few minutes

And we’re fortunate if at least one of us is home

When he does his house-visit by phone

So, who then will complain that the blessing has disappeared

Together with the coffee and rusks?