Bitter-berry daybreak
bitter-berry sun
a mirror has broken
between me and him
I try to find the highway
perhaps to run away
but everywhere the footpaths
of his words lead me astray
Pinewood remember
pinewood forget
however much I lose my way
I step on my regret
Parrot-colored echo
tricks me tricks me on
until I turn beguiled
to retrieve the mocking song
Echo gives no answer
he answers everyone
bitter-berry daybreak
bitter-berry sun
Translated from the Afrikaans by André Brink and Antjie Krog.