Dearestkin Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Terry Pratchett would have loved to translate
Langenhoven’s Lullaby for Liefstetjie in his own
inimitable whimsical way, it must be sung at my
funeral one day as my mother used to sing it to
us at every night - to a small me it was the most
magical song in the world and my mother’s sun-
shine voice the most magnificent sound I had
ever heard, thus my love affair with music and
words had begun, see the Pratchettian version
of this beloved song of my heart:

PRATCHETT’s LULLABY FOR DEARESTKIN:

Tulala-rulala – hush-hush my dearestkin
Mother's heart robberken, dearest little thievikin
Hear the wind whispering within the treeletkin
Lulling the treeletkin across the streamletkin

Hush-hush, you leafletkins, sleep is a-comingken
Hush-hush, you flowerkins, night is a-comingken
Thus singeth the windkin for leaflets and flowerkins.


[ORIGINAL “AFRIKAANSE WIEGELIEDJIE”: ]

LANGENHOVEN’S LULLABY FOR LIEFSTETJIE:

Lamtietie damtietie, doe-doe my liefstetjie
Moederhart-rowertjie, dierbaarste diefstetjie
Luister hoe fluister die wind deur die boompetjie
heen en weer wieg hy hom al oor die stroompetjie

Doe-doe-doe blaretjie, slapenstyd nadertjie
Doe-doe-doe blommetjie, nag is aan kommetjie
So sing die windjie vir blaartjies en blommetjies.