Oor die rand van uitgebrand

“These challenging times” nearly got me down, but rhymes like this one picked me up again.

The image of the rhyme in Afrikaans "oor die rand van uitgebrand" with doodles by Gerhi Janse van vuuren

The full text in Afrikaans:

Oor die rand van uitgebrand

Ek spartel rond

In my eie wond

En terwyl ek in infeksie swem

Wonder ek waarvoor is ek dan bestem?

Veraf hoor ek ’n hond blaf

En vaagweg wonder ek wanneer hulle maskers gaan afskaf …?

Maar, ag, dis sommer laf – 

Wie sal laat los wat soveel mag verskaf?

Só sak ek dieper in die donker af en af

Tot net duskant die graf …

Skielik gly daar ’n rympie by my verby.

Sal ek hom betyds raakgevat kry?

Ek volg hom op en op 

Tot my kop

Bo die oppervlak uitpop!

Rympies word my antidepressant

Vat my aan die hand 

En lei my terug oor die rand van uitgebrand.

Where I am going with this blog from here.

Since the beginning of this year I had been recovering from burn-out from the work and personal overwhelm of 2020-2021. In the depths of my despair I began to make rhymes. They are my antidepressants and I share them here. They are also a form of advocacy and resistance.

The plan is to post one every weekend – but as soon as this becomes too much like work, I will stop.

I want them to offer joy, giggles, sniffles and reflection.

Thanks to my sister Monica Bosman who is my soundboard and my language editor Find her here.

To my Husband Gerhi who does the doodles. Find him at www.gerhi.com 

And my son who edits and posts my videos.

Yip, it is a family affair…