This is one of the saddest poems I know. It somehow touches me in a way that few poems do.
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Harlekyn van die dieretuin Jester of the Zoo
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Hy sien die agies… He sees the nosey parkers...
Dan wip hy, skielik mal, He hops, suddenly madly
van paal na klip, from pole to stone
van klip na krip from stone to trough
en spat die water, and splashes the water,
venynig-woes spitefully savagely
dat almal keer en koes so that all dodge and duck
maar as hul skater but when they guffaw
vat hy die sak en vou he takes the sack and folds
dit oor sy hoof; it over his head;
verlate op ‘n ashoop rou desolate on a junkpile he mourns
hy oor wat hulle van hom roof: what they rob him of;
vér vlaktes en blou dolomiet--- faraway plains and blue dolomite-
‘n hopie grys verdriet. a small heap of gray grief.
