Chris van der Westhuizen

My pa is nie dood
Net die liggaam, groot.
Hy leef vir ewig
In my gedagtes voort.

My vader wou nog altyd
Net die beste vir my hê,
Hy is nog steeds my held
Maak nie saak wat ander sê.

Hy het sy hande af gewerk,
Hard geswoeg vir ons bestaan.
Nooit was daar ooit te min
As jy vra het jy ontvang.

Ek weet wat ek weet
As iemand my vra,
Want die wêreld sal
Dit nooit kan begryp.

Niemand sal ooit kan verstaan
Wat deur my gedagtes gaan.
Niemand sal my hart kan sien
'n Blote oog kan dit nie verdien.

Kyk dieper in my siel - 
Die ware koninkryk.
Sien my geestelik, want dit is ek
In die ware sin van God's Woord.

Dan sal jy verstaan
Waarom huil ek nie.
Ons dien dieselfde God
My siel het rus met syn.

                              Chris M. v/d Westhuizen '1998

Nota: Sien die vorige gedig as deel van die een.

That’s Why I Don’t Cry

My dad is not dead,
Only the body’s dread.
He lives forever still,
In my thoughts and in my will.

My father always tried
To give me his best with pride.
He’s still my hero today,
No matter what others say.

He worked his hands to the bone,
Labored hard to build our home.
Never did we lack or want - 
If you asked, he’d freely grant.

I know what’s true and right,
Even if hidden from sight.
For this world won’t ever see
The depths of what he meant to me.

No one will ever truly grasp
What goes on behind my mask.
No one sees my inner part - 
The naked eye can’t touch the heart.

Look deeper into my soul,
Where God’s Kingdom makes me whole.
See me in spirit - this is who I am,
Living God’s Word, not just a man.

Then you’ll know the reason why
You never saw me cry.
We serve the same Lord - 
And in Him, my soul's restored.

                              Chris M. v/d Westhuizen '1998 (Translated from Afrikaans)

Note: See the previous poem as part of this one.