Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ronelda Kamfer

LITTLE CARDO

Cardo was born
but no one was expecting him
his mom was sixteen
and his dad community builder of the year 
his granny was a cashier
and his step-granddad drank to kill the pain

Cardo was a handsome kid 
with a dark skin and light eyes
handsome enough to speak English 
he loved to play three sticks 
and rotten eggs
in the street 
Tietie Gawa from the mobile stall said 
Cardo was a little angel

The evening before Cardo’s first day 
at secondary school 
the Schoolboys fired crackers in the road
Cardo peeked out of the window 
the bullet got stuck in his throat 
his mom didn’t cry
the politicians planted a small tree 
the Cape Doctor ripped it out
and threw it where the rest 
of the Cape’s dreams lie –

on the flats

KLEIN CARDO

KLEIN CARDO

Cardo was gebore 
maar niemand het hom verwag nie
sy ma was sestien 
en sy pa gemeenskapsbouer vannie jaar 
sy ouma was ’n cashier 
en sy stiefoupa het gedrink virrie pyn

Cardo was ’n mooi klong 
met ’n donker vel en ligte oë
mooi genoeg om Engels te praat
hy’t gehou van drie stokkies 
en vrottie eier innie pad speel
Tietie Gawa vannie mobile het gesê 
Cardo was ’n engelkind

Die aand voor Cardo se eerste dag
op grootskool 
het die Schoolboys klappers innie pad geskiet 
Cardo het by die venster uitgeloer
die koeël het in sy keel gaan sit
sy ma hettie gehuil nie 
die politicians het ’n boompie geplant 
en die Kaapse Dokter het hom uitgepluk 
en gegooi waar die res 
vannie Kaap se drome lê –

oppie vlaktes


Close

LITTLE CARDO

Cardo was born
but no one was expecting him
his mom was sixteen
and his dad community builder of the year 
his granny was a cashier
and his step-granddad drank to kill the pain

Cardo was a handsome kid 
with a dark skin and light eyes
handsome enough to speak English 
he loved to play three sticks 
and rotten eggs
in the street 
Tietie Gawa from the mobile stall said 
Cardo was a little angel

The evening before Cardo’s first day 
at secondary school 
the Schoolboys fired crackers in the road
Cardo peeked out of the window 
the bullet got stuck in his throat 
his mom didn’t cry
the politicians planted a small tree 
the Cape Doctor ripped it out
and threw it where the rest 
of the Cape’s dreams lie –

on the flats

LITTLE CARDO

Cardo was born
but no one was expecting him
his mom was sixteen
and his dad community builder of the year 
his granny was a cashier
and his step-granddad drank to kill the pain

Cardo was a handsome kid 
with a dark skin and light eyes
handsome enough to speak English 
he loved to play three sticks 
and rotten eggs
in the street 
Tietie Gawa from the mobile stall said 
Cardo was a little angel

The evening before Cardo’s first day 
at secondary school 
the Schoolboys fired crackers in the road
Cardo peeked out of the window 
the bullet got stuck in his throat 
his mom didn’t cry
the politicians planted a small tree 
the Cape Doctor ripped it out
and threw it where the rest 
of the Cape’s dreams lie –

on the flats

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère