John-Henry Poem by Gert Strydom

(After Elisabeth Eybers)

John-Henry is sixteen years old
and fatherless his mother did spare the cane
and insolent and impudent he uses the word damn
in almost every sentence.

Every time that fists does fly at school
John-Henry is the one that is first in the ring,
in the afternoons there is a cigarette in his mouth
and he blows rings with the smoke.

Girls do follow him continually one after another
and sometimes there is a circle standing around him
where he wears a cap that is turned around
and sunglasses do compensate for his lack of manners

but there are times that he does play sad songs on his guitar
when he shares his own melancholy with the world
and he drives his new scooter up and down
as if the street does belong to him
while all neighbourhood dogs do bark.

Just when I expect peace
and do yearn for moments of tranquillity
John-Henry does arrive at my neighbour's house
where he does brake sharply while driving at speed,

does hoot until the gate is opened for him
and then does stand boldly with his big chest
until the children go and call their sister
and together they sit and chat on the porch.

[Reference: "Terugkeer van Klaas-Hannes" (The return of Klaas-Hannes) by Elisabeth Eybers.]