#AandIPoetryChallenge: May 2018 – Diamante

Soos gewoonlik, het ek weer oral in Google rondgeblaai op soek na interessante digvorme en by hierdie Wiki skakel het ek afgekom op die diamante-gedigsvorm.  Ek leer nou algaande dat daar reëls verbonde is aan gedigte en hierdie gedig kan nie sommer net geskryf word om in ‘n diamantvorm in te pas nie; daar is spesifieke riglyne wat gevolg moet word.

As usual, I went Google-surfing to find interesting poetry formats and on this (Afrikaans) Wiki link I was introduced to the diamante poetry format. I am learning that all poetry is subject to certain rules and the main idea of this type of poetry is not simply to write a poem that can fit into a diamond shape; there are specific guidelines to be followed.

Die gedig bestaan uit sewe reëls en daar is spesifieke woordsoorte wat gebruik moet word in elke reël:

The diamante is a seven-line diamond shaped poem that follows a specific pattern where in each line a different part of speech is used:

1 x selfstandige naamwoord, onderwerp (noun, subject)
2 x byvoeglike naamwoord (adjective)
3 x werkwoord (verb)
4 x verlede deelwoord (past particle)
3 x werkwoord (verb)
2 x byvoeglike naamwoord (adjective)
1 selfstandige naamwoord, onderwerp (noun, subject)

Die selfstandige naamwoorde in die eerste en laaste reëls kan teenoorgesteldes wees, of op een of ander manier met mekaar verband hou (sinoniem of antoniem). Die woorde tussenin kan bou op die verskille en die onderliggende verbande.

The subjects in the first and last lines may be opposites, or be related in one way or another (synonymous or antonyms). The words in between can build on the differences and the underlying relationships.

Die gedig kan begin met een onderwerp en dan oorgaan na ‘n kontrasterende onderwerp in die vierde lyn. Dit was waarvoor ek gemik het.

The poem can begin with one subject and then transition to a contrasting subject in the fourth line. This was what I was aiming for.

Om ‘n onderwerp te vind, was baie maklik – diamante en vrouens is immers baie nou verwant. Wat ek graag wou doen is om ‘n beroepsvrou teenoor ‘n tuisteskepper te posisioneer en die verskille uit te wys. Ek het immers lewenslank beide rolle vervul; ek weet waarvan ek praat.

Finding a subject was very easy – diamonds and women are very closely related. What I wanted to do was to contrast a professional career woman and a homemaker, and point out the differences. After all, I have fulfilled both roles for life; I know what I am talking about.

Maar op ‘n stadium moes ek die breinwerk agtergelaat en die gedig toegelaat het om homself te skryf, want kyk wat het gebeur: daar is die bewys dat ‘n beroepsvrou en tuisteskepper voëls van eenderse vere is. Die aanslag is dieselfde, dis net die invalshoek wat verskil.

But at one stage or another, I must have taken leave from the brainwork and allowed the poem to write itself. See what happened here: there is the clear evidence that a woman and a home creator are birds of a feather. The pursuit is the same; it’s just the point of entry that differs.

Ek weet regtig nie of die gedig poëties en die taalgebruik korrek is nie, maar ek voel heel tevrede met die uitslag. Ek verstaan nou goed hoekom vrouens beide rolle so suksesvol kan vervul.

I’m not too sure whether the poem is poetic and grammatically correct, but I feel very satisfied with the outcome. I now understand why women can fulfill both roles so successfully.

TRANSLATED:

This is my second entry for the A and I Poetry Challenge no 3: May. Due to time constraints, I was not able to publish an entry for April and I promised to post two poems this month.

Ineke and Amanda, this is the Afrikaans poem that I promised to write. Thank you both, once again, for hosting this blog challenge. It is a steep learning curve for me, but one that I find most enjoyable.