Dearest Thief 8 July 2009 Poem by Margaret Alice

- - Lamtie-tie damtie-tie hush my baby
Robber of your mother's heart, dearest thief - -

Listening to the music language makes
listening to the way words reverberate

Remembering the lovely songs my mother
used to sing, listening to Dalida in Arabic

The French of Edith Piaf, Ay Mariek Marieke
by Jacques Brel, the most beautiful

Still remains Langenhoven’s Lullaby for
Liefstetjie…

Lam-tie-tie, Dam-tie-tie (English)

Lamtie-tie damtie-tie hush my baby
Robber of your mother's heart, dearest thief
Listen to the wind whispering through the trees
It lulls the trees across the streamlet.

Go to sleep, all the leaves, time for sleep is coming
Go to sleep, all the flowers, night is coming
That is the song of the wind for all the leaves and flowers.

1. This song was written by a South African writer, C. J. Langenhoven.

2. The words 'lamtietie damtietie' are pet names for a baby that are untranslatable.

Afrikaans: Lamtietie, Damtietie

Lamtietie damtietie, doe-doe my liefstetjie
Moederhartrowertjie, dierbaarste diefstetjie
Luister hoe fluister die wind deur die boompetjie
heen en weer wieg hy hom al oor die stroompetjie

Doe-doe-doe bladertjies, slapenstyd nadertjies
Doe-doe-doe blommetjies, nag is aan’t kommetjies
So sing die windjie vir bladertjies en blommetjies

Source: http: //www.mamalisa.com/world/safrica.html#frere

8 June 2009