Versamelde gedigte

Fairies at Zeekoevlei

O, let us go a-gypsying across the Flats to Zeekoevlei,

And watch the reverend hamerkop and pink flamingoes on patrol.

It may be (there's no knowing) that on such a lovely summer's day

We might (a lucky chance indeed) meet fairies going for a stroll.

They stay, you know, in arum spathes, white arum spathes that shine like
Where little litvit frogs they tease with tassels of green gossamer.
They dress in doublets made of dew and gabardines of rainbow silk -
(What's underneath no man can tell, but Fancy doubtless may infer.)

[p. 437]

 

They're shy secretive folk at best, tremendous in their dignity,

 

Well-knowing that they know much more than any two-legged mortal knows.

 

That's why it's only natural they pick and choose their company,

 

And hate to have us human folk about them more than chance allows.

 

 

 

Yet (as I just now stated, there's no knowing) on a summer's day

 

They sometimes go a-gypsying like us with cake and raisin bread,

 

In little clumps of families (they're mostly twins) for picnic play,

 

But only when they've safely put their little litvit frogs to bed.

 

 

 

Then if we're really lucky, and if Fancy goes along with us,

 

It may be we shall see them when they slither through the tangled grass.

 

We must, of course, be careful not to talk too much or make a fuss,

 

And certainly dear Uncle Frank must never, never use his glass.

 

 

 

So let us go a-gypsying across the Flats to Zeekoevlei,

 

And get to know the Fairy-folk that live in milk-white arum halls.

 

There's just a chance a hoydenish pert fairy shouts, ‘Come on and play.’

 

Who'd want to look at hamerkops or pink flamingoes when she calls?