Sunday, January 1, 2012

N. P. van Wyk Louw - V. Whoever said goodnight must be good

N. P. van Wyk Louw

V

Whoever said goodnight must be good
to those to whom goodnight was said;
for the evenings are there for loving
and the day is hard, and daybreak is mournful,
mostly: we are not earth, which is pure.
Our labours do not bring joy into our hearts;
We are still a world unfinished.

N. P. van Wyk Louw, Tristia

[Translated by Johann de Lange]