Gulwe op die Strand
Hulle val oor hul eie voete
Al val hulle terug hou hulle moed
Hulle staan weer op en storm,
Storm in waansin waar voort
Net soos dit lyk of hul die geveg
Wen, kom die wit bal
en trek hul terug waar hul
vandaan kom
Party dae is hulle rof en grof
Ander dae skuif hul rustig voort
maar altyd bly hul genadeloos
In die stilte van die oggend
Dreun jul voort en klap soos n sweep
Hul spoeg dood maar nie verwoesting nie
Selfs die magtige swart kastele
Bly nie staande, nie staan teen hul
Voortdurende aanslag nie
Hul sal voortgaan heel dag, heel nag
Lank na ons en lank voor ons
Sal hule oor hul eie voete breek
Transliteration
Hille fal oor hulle aya foete
Al fal hille terug hoe hille moet
Hille staan veer op en storm
Storm in vaansin veer foort
Net soos dit lake orf hil di gefeg
Ven, korm dee vit bul
En trek hil terug vaar hil
Fandaan kom
Partay dae is hille rof en grof
Anda dae skuyf hil ristig fourt
Mar alteight blay hil genadiloos
In dee stilta fan dee ogind
Dreen hil fourt en clapsoos a swap
Hil spoeg dout mar knee firvosting knee
Selfs dee magtiga swaart kasteala
Blay nee stande,knee staan teun hil
Fourtdurende aanslag knee
Hil sal fourtgaan heal dug,heal nug
Lunk na ons en lunk four ons
Sal hil oor hil eye foete breuk
English translation
Waves on the beach
They tumble over their own legs
Even though they fall back, they are courageous
They go out again and charge
charge forward vehemently again
Just as it appears as if they are winning
the battle, the big white ball comes
and drags them back
to where they came from
Some days they are rough and mean
Other days they move on quietly
but they are always merciless
In the silence of the morning
they rumble forward and hit like a whip
They spit forth death but not total destruction
Even the powerful black castles
do not stand, do not stand
against the constant attacks
They continue on all day and night
Long after us and before us
They will break over their own feet
English and Afrikaans used to be the two official languages of South Africa until Apartheid was ended. My father is fluent in Afrikaans as it is a mandatory subject one had to take from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Literature and poetry were significant parts of the Afrikaans curriculum and this is a poem that my father remembers learning in junior high school.
The poem symbolizes to him the eternity of the sea. Peoples lives are transient and whereas the waves on the beach are interminable. However what both have in common are the ups and downs, the tranquil times and the rough times, and the unknowing variation that takes place.
He feels that the poem is very descriptive, however a lot of the impact is lost in translation.
I agree with my father about the juxtaposition of the eternity of waves with the terminable human life. However, I feel that there is more to the poem that can be explored. This poem not only delves into the difference between the sea and humans but also shows the similarities as well. The waves are shown to be unrelenting. Although they are given obstacles (Even though they fall back, they are courageous) they continue each day extending effort to defeat the current. However the waves will continue each day regardless of success but that will not stop them from continuing relentless for eternity.
This poem seems to teach a lesson about the human spirit. Similar to the waves being defeated, humans will always have people pushing them back from achieving their goals. Yet this should not stop one from trying to succeed with a goal but instead encourage persistence and dedication. Sometimes one will never reach the desired goal but it essential to continue regardless. The phrase that reads Some days they are rough and mean, other days they move on quietly represents the human persona. Some days we are able to continue without complaints and power through even though challenges are constantly placed in our direction. Yet in other circumstances anger is released from the frustration of failure.
I wish I was able to fluently understand Afrikaans as I definitely think a lot of the significance and beauty is lost in translating the poem to English. Many times a word in one language does not have a direct translation into another language. Therefore a lot of the meaning is taken away through translation.