The ghost of Afrikaans is looming large, since I'm
functionally illiterate and cannot express anything
in English, I'm studying Arabic & translating from
Spanish and Portuguese - to be an outcast in my
so-called mother tongue is sad, but to be unable
to comprehend other languages doesn't hurt -
After practicing to write Arabic on a Friday night
my fears are allayed, with Mme La Pompadour's
telling everyone off in 4-letter words & doing as
she likes, I shall learn from her example & follow
in her footsteps - after years of trying I've finally
given up studying the art of anything, much too
Difficult for someone with a short-circuit brain like
mine - with my steering-wheel gone and my gears
stuck it's useless to pretend that my mental engine
can still produce some torque - it took too long for
me to perceive how useless my attempts to master
the art of reformulation in various languages
From now I'll coast, happy in the knowledge that
I have no potential and Eastern gurus claim there
was never a need for any - we are human beings
and not human doings or activities, just breathing
is more than enough -what a relief that the theory
of the categorical imperative is just non-sense
In this illusion - - made for our amusement - -
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
to be an outcast in my so-called mother tongue is sad, it is really sad! I agree with you. Thank you for sharing it. I also loved the 3rd stanza of this poem, so creative! Margaret