9 Die nuwe kind - Pieter Strauss
The new child
1 Ons oë pen jou in jou spore vas:
Our eyes pin you in your tracks:
2 die nuwe kind hier in ons klas.
the new child here in our class.
3 In óns skooldrag, langs óns meneer,
In our school uniform, with our teacher,
4 jou hare volgens die reëls geskeer.
your hair cut according to the rules.
5 “Hector Sobukwe,” hoor ons jou naam,
“Hector Sobukwe,” we hear your name,
6 “’n koningskind” – al is jy skaam.
“a royal child” – even though you’re shy.
7 Bedees knik jy, asof jy óns bedank
Timidly you nod, as if you’re thanking us
8 en gaan sit dan stil in jou bank.
and then sit quietly at your desk.
9 Uit ’n Tupperware-bakkie, soos dit hoort,
From a Tupperware container, as it should be,
10 eet jy pouses jou snytjies brood.
you eat your slices of bread at break.
11 Maar eenkant, alleen, onder ‘n boom
But aside, alone, under a tree
12 gaan staan jy dan en droom.
you then go and stand and dream.
85
,13 In die kunsklas word jou pen ’n mas,
In the art class your pen becomes a mast,
14 hys jy prentjieseile uit jou ribbekas,
you hoist picture sails from your ribcage,
15 vaar jy weg oor wit papier
you sail over white paper
16 die toekoms in, nog ver van hier ...
into the future, still far from here ...
86
, BACKGROUND
Pieter Strauss is an Afrikaans teacher at a High School in Bellville. He started writing
in grade 8. His Afrikaans teacher, the well-known writer-poet, George Weideman,
encouraged him to write.
Hector
The new child in the poem's name is the same as the boy who was shot dead by the
police during the 1976 school uprising, Hector Pieterson. He was only 12 years
old. Mentioning his name evokes the famous photo of the dying Hector being carried
away by a schoolmate as his sister, Antoinette, stretches out her arms in front of her
in panic.
Hector Pieterson became the symbol of the resistance to an unjust rule.
His name is synonymous with the 1976 uprisings in Soweto against apartheid.
June 16, 1976 - an important date in our history.
Sobukwe
The new boy in the poem's surname is the same as the founder of the Pan Africanist
Congress (PAC), Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe (1924-1978).
He had a very strong personality and motivated people to believe in and strive for a
future.
He was in prison from 1960-1969 and then under house arrest until his death in 1978
from lung cancer.
After 1994, learners gradually became accustomed to white, black and brown going
to school together.
At first it was difficult.
People had preconceived notions about how white children were and about
how black / brown children were.
Moreover, a new child in school is always strange and aloof until he / she has
made friends.
In the poem, ond then deals with a black boy who is in a predominantly white
school.
o He feels like an outsider.
Theme
The prejudices against people who cheat on us.
Mood
Telling
87
The new child
1 Ons oë pen jou in jou spore vas:
Our eyes pin you in your tracks:
2 die nuwe kind hier in ons klas.
the new child here in our class.
3 In óns skooldrag, langs óns meneer,
In our school uniform, with our teacher,
4 jou hare volgens die reëls geskeer.
your hair cut according to the rules.
5 “Hector Sobukwe,” hoor ons jou naam,
“Hector Sobukwe,” we hear your name,
6 “’n koningskind” – al is jy skaam.
“a royal child” – even though you’re shy.
7 Bedees knik jy, asof jy óns bedank
Timidly you nod, as if you’re thanking us
8 en gaan sit dan stil in jou bank.
and then sit quietly at your desk.
9 Uit ’n Tupperware-bakkie, soos dit hoort,
From a Tupperware container, as it should be,
10 eet jy pouses jou snytjies brood.
you eat your slices of bread at break.
11 Maar eenkant, alleen, onder ‘n boom
But aside, alone, under a tree
12 gaan staan jy dan en droom.
you then go and stand and dream.
85
,13 In die kunsklas word jou pen ’n mas,
In the art class your pen becomes a mast,
14 hys jy prentjieseile uit jou ribbekas,
you hoist picture sails from your ribcage,
15 vaar jy weg oor wit papier
you sail over white paper
16 die toekoms in, nog ver van hier ...
into the future, still far from here ...
86
, BACKGROUND
Pieter Strauss is an Afrikaans teacher at a High School in Bellville. He started writing
in grade 8. His Afrikaans teacher, the well-known writer-poet, George Weideman,
encouraged him to write.
Hector
The new child in the poem's name is the same as the boy who was shot dead by the
police during the 1976 school uprising, Hector Pieterson. He was only 12 years
old. Mentioning his name evokes the famous photo of the dying Hector being carried
away by a schoolmate as his sister, Antoinette, stretches out her arms in front of her
in panic.
Hector Pieterson became the symbol of the resistance to an unjust rule.
His name is synonymous with the 1976 uprisings in Soweto against apartheid.
June 16, 1976 - an important date in our history.
Sobukwe
The new boy in the poem's surname is the same as the founder of the Pan Africanist
Congress (PAC), Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe (1924-1978).
He had a very strong personality and motivated people to believe in and strive for a
future.
He was in prison from 1960-1969 and then under house arrest until his death in 1978
from lung cancer.
After 1994, learners gradually became accustomed to white, black and brown going
to school together.
At first it was difficult.
People had preconceived notions about how white children were and about
how black / brown children were.
Moreover, a new child in school is always strange and aloof until he / she has
made friends.
In the poem, ond then deals with a black boy who is in a predominantly white
school.
o He feels like an outsider.
Theme
The prejudices against people who cheat on us.
Mood
Telling
87
