ROSE                                                   ROSES

die kanker wurm                                  the canker worm

het die roos                                         withered the rose

oor my hart verwoes                            over my heart

en in my bors                                        left sharp thorns

doring naalde gelos                              to shred my soul

en diep in my gemoed                           and set my image

is ek geskeur                                         in its hideous form.

en nie geweet                                       I didn't know

juis hoe ek treur.                                   how deep my sorrow;           

my gelaat sien ek                                  couldn't feel

in sy gelaat                                            flowing,

vol lelikheid en haat;                             from a crown of thorns

nie eens sien ek raak                            on a mutilated form,

die doring kroon                                    deep red drops

en druppels rooi,                                   of endless love,          

die liefdestroom,                                    flooding my wounds

uit verminking vloei,                               and setting my image

wat 'n blom laat groei                            in a new blown rose,

diep, diep, in my hart,                            a blood red rose,

‘n nuwe roos,                                        a rose

'n hartseer troos                                   no canker worm

wat 'n kanker wurm                              can ever conquer.

nooit kan oorwin.