farouk asvat : poems: May 2015

26 May 2015

BROTHER!

BROTHER!
© Farouk Asvat

'I know my job,

      An' you know your job.
      But you know what?
      I'm going to eff you up!
      You, together with your brother.'

"Who?

Me?
Me, I don't have a brother, me.
My brother is dead.
God is my brother.
An' he is also dead."

* original composed: 23.11.1985 [Johannesburg, South Africa under apartheid].

# english translation by farouk asvat: 2006 [Johannesburg, South Africa under new apartheid].

[] Acknowledgements:

Brother! / Broer! was previously published in:

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p41, 2006); #

     Bra Frooks … (piquant publications, p31, 2006); *
     www.faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com (27.11.2012); * #
     www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com (26.05.2015); * #
     Bra Frooks … (kindle, 2014); *
     Bra Frooks … (amazon paperback, p28, 2014); *
     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (kindle, 2014); #
     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p39, 2014). #

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Sadness In The House Of Love: the first NOVEL by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $17.50 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the anthology The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $10 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the anthology A Celebration Of Flames by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $10 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the anthology The Time Of Our Lives by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: paperback @ $10 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the anthology Bra Frooks … by Farouk Asvat is now available
on amazon: paperback @ $10 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, or transmitted in any form or any means whatsoever, mechanical or electronic, including recording, printing, photocopying, or via any computerised means or media, including the internet. This publication shall also not be stored in a retrieval system. And the writing shall not be sold, lent, hired, resold or circulated in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published,

without the prior permission of the author in writing.

Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.

Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,

is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

farouk asvat can be contacted at: farouk.asvat@gmail.com

[] please check out my blogs @:

farouk asvat - poems: www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

weapons of words: www.faroukasvat-viewpoint.blogspot.com

piquante ! : www.faroukasvat-piquant.blogspot.com

books by farouk asvat: www.faroukasvat-books.blogspot.com

[] also link up on:

google+ : https://plus.google.com/116303232543019349765

linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/farouk-asvat/42/6b6/52a

twitter: www.twitter.com/faroukasvat

facebook: www.facebook.com/faroukasvat

amazon kindle author @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

_______________________________________________________
[] WIETIE WHAT-WHAT:

BROER!

'Ek ken my djob,

       En djy ken djou djob.
       Maa' wiet djy wat?
       Ek gaan djou opvok!
       Djy, saam met djou broer.'

"Wie?

Ek?
Ek het nie 'n broer, ek.
My broer is sat.
God is my broer.
En hy is ook sat."

Bra Frooks is ...

                    [] nes 'n skollie
                    [] 'n egte skollie
                    [] 'n tsotsi
                    [] a real scamp
                    [] streetwise
                    [] the jokerman

Bra Frooks ...

                    [] praat soos 'n skollie
                    [] wietie soos 'n joster
                    [] wietie what-what
                    [] tunes like a durbanite
                    [] speaks like an englishman

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books

www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

19 May 2015

HAPPY!ness

HAPPY!ness

"Happy Christmas, Anna."

'Hêppy Xmas, Mêrram

(and you too
my sweet husband
living in bachelors' quarters
and hêppiness too
my children
staying with the mother
of their mother
on the farm)
Anything else, Mastah?'

original composed: 1985 [johannesburg, south africa under #apartheid ]

[] acknowledgements:

Happy!ness / Hêppy!ness was previously published in:

A Celebration Of Flames (donker, p19, 1987);

My Drum: southern african poetry for young people ed b meyerowitz, j copans, t welch (hippogriff, jhb, p21, 1988);

G'luk: Dutch translation by Irene Scheltes (1989);

Broken Strings: the politics of poetry in south africa ed s finn, r gray (maskew miller longman, cape town, p128, 1992);

A Celebration Of Flames (piquant publications, p19, 2007);

https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com/2015/05/happyness.html (19.05.2015);

https://faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com/2012/11/happyness.html (13.11.2012);

A Celebration Of Flames (kindle, 2014);

A Celebration Of Flames (amazon paperback, p21, 2014).

___________________________________________________________________________

[§] Books by Farouk Asvat:

● Sadness In The House Of Love (novel)

● The Gathering Of The Storm (novel)

● I Dream In Long Sentences (poetry)

● The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (poetry)

● A Celebration Of Flames (poetry)

● The Time Of Our Lives (poetry)

● This Masquerade (short stories)

● Bra Frooks … (poetry)*

● The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*

● In The House Of Love (novel)*

● Weapons Of Words (literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle

@ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

___________________________________________________________________________

¨ A CELEBRATION OF FLAMES by FAROUK ASVAT ¨

§ WINNER OF THE VITA AWARD §

""A Celebration of Flames" is a powerful, impassioned call. The sanity and courage of this collection arises from the poet's unique experiential perceptions of his milieu, making him one of the few who can write about these traumatic times with such lucidity and lyricism. The strength of Farouk Asvat's poetry lies in the way he intertwines the complex elements of social and political conflicts with intense personal relationships. The wide tonal range extends from sensual and delicate insights into the nature of passion to the satiric and humorous use of slang."

● Vita Award citation

"Like hesitating snowflakes ... his words are fascinating in their capricious wilfulness ... like unexpected strokes of a whip."

● Susanne Baackmann, University Of Albuquerque, USA

"His love poetry soars with an intense sensitivity, it celebrates lyrically the joys of a most exquisite sensuousness."

● Marcia Leveson, University Of The Witwatersrand, The Indicator

""A Celebration of Flames" (is) a powerful, impassioned call. I admire the sanity and courage of this. Your position and perception make you one of the few who can write on this subject without obscenity."

● Lionel Abrahams, editor Purple Renoster & Sesame

"The legend of poet extraordinaire Farouk Asvat: ... like vintage wine, proper poetry matures with time, and like vintage art the voice and wisdom of a poet worth the name is timeless."

● Mphutlane wa Bofelo, kagablog

"... you almost catch your breath at some of the stanzas ... you can re-read it several times and be struck by new ideas, metaphors, elegiac surprises, and the heartfelt poignancy ..."

● Aggrey Klaaste, editor Sowetan

"Out of an angry silence, a polished poet is born."

● Anton Harber, editor Weekly Mail

___________________________________________________________________________

[] WIETIE WHAT-WHAT:

HÊPPY!ness

original #afrikaans slang version © Farouk Asvat

"Happy Christmas, Anna."

'Hêppy Xmas, Mêrram

(and you too

my sweet husband

living in bachelors' quarters

and hêppiness too

my children

staying with the mother

of their mother

on the farm)

Anything else, Mastah?'

original #afrikaans slang version composed: 1985 [johannesburg, south africa under #apartheid ]

Bra Frooks is ...

[] nes 'n skollie

[] 'n egte skollie

[] 'n tsotsi

[] a real scamp

[] streetwise

[] the jokerman

Bra Frooks ...

[] praat soos 'n skollie

[] wietie soos 'n joster

[] wietie what-what

[] tunes like a durbanite

[] speaks like an englishman

___________________________________________________________________________

[] G'LUK!

Dutch translation by © Irene Scheltes

"Gelukkig Kerstfeest, Anna."

'G'lukkige Kerst, M'vrouw

(en jij ook

m'n lieve man

in de vrijgezellenwijk

en g'luk ook voor jullie

m'n kinderen

die bij de moeder

van hun moeder zijn)

Nog iets anders, Meest'r?'

Dutch translation by kind permission of © Irene Scheltes

___________________________________________________________________________

ΕΥΤΥ!χια

Greek translation by © Paulos Ioannou

«Χαρούμενα Χριστούγεννα, Άννα».

«Χαρούμενα Χριστούγεννα, Μέρραμ

(κι εσύ επίσης

γλυκέ μου σύζυγε

στεγασμένος σε συνοικία για εργένηδες

και ευτυχία επίσης

τα παιδιά μου

μένουν με τη μητέρα

της μητέρας τους

στην φάρμα)

Τίποτα άλλο, Μάστερ;».

Greek translation by kind permission of © Paulos Ioannou

___________________________________________________________________________

Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

without the prior permission of the author in writing.

Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.

Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,

is liable to a payment of 10,000 yuan (ren men bi) or US$1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat

is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $20 & kindle @ only $5

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics

#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism

#bra #frooks #heppyness

#a #celebration #of #flames #happyness

● poems @ https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

● linkedin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/farouk-asvat-52a6b642

● sa history @ https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/mohamed-farouk-asvat

● wikipedia @ https://en.everybodywiki.com/Farouk_Asvat

● youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDlracNOh9E/faroukasvat

● all my books @ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

● BE A REVOLUTIONARY!

"Remember that the highest rank that the human species can reach is to be a revolutionary."

● Ernesto (Ché) Guevara

"Always be a poet, even in prose."

● Charles Baudelaire

"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods."

● Ancient Chinese Proverb

12 May 2015

FIETAS (reprise)

FIETAS ( reprise )

They kicked our lives out

And built expensive houses

But the Boers don't want to move in

They say the coolies bewitched the place

Because there's an Arab

In a white dress

Who walks every night

Through the houses

But we jus' know otherwise

It's only the ghost

Of Imaam Bananas

* original composed: 1985 [Johannesburg, South Africa under apartheid]

# english translation by farouk asvat: 2007 [Johannesburg, South Africa under new apartheid].

[] Acknowledgements:

Fietas (reprise) was previously published in:

A Celebration Of Flames (donker, p15, 1987); *

Sesame 7 (Renoster Books, Johannesburg, p3, Winter 1986); *

Bra Frooks … (piquant publications, p21, 2006); *

A Celebration Of Flames (piquant publications, p14, 2007); #

www.faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com (06.11.2012); * #

www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com (12.05.2015); * #

Bra Frooks … (kindle, 2014); *

Bra Frooks … (amazon paperback, p19, 2014); *

A Celebration Of Flames (kindle, 2014); #

A Celebration Of Flames (amazon paperback, p23, 2014). #

______________________________________________________________

[§] Books by Farouk Asvat:

● Sadness In The House Of Love (novel)

● The Gathering Of The Storm (novel)

● I Dream In Long Sentences (poetry)

● The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (poetry)

● A Celebration Of Flames (poetry)

● The Time Of Our Lives (poetry)

● Bra Frooks … (poetry)*

● The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*

● In The House Of Love (novel)*

● Weapons Of Words (comparative literature & literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle

> @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

______________________________________________________________

Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

without the prior permission of the author in writing.

Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.

Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,

is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

farouk asvat can be contacted at: farouk.asvat@gmail.com

[] please check out my blogs @:

poems: www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

weapons of words: www.faroukasvat-viewpoint.blogspot.com

piquante: www.faroukasvat-piquant.blogspot.com

piqued: www.faroukasvat-piqued.blogspot.com

books by farouk asvat: www.faroukasvat-books.blogspot.com

[] also link up on:

google+: www.google.com/+faroukasvat

linkedin: www.linkedin.com/farouk-asvat

facebook: www.facebook.com/faroukasvat

youtube: www.youtube.com/c/faroukasvat

twitter: www.twitter.com/faroukasvat

amazon kindle author @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

_______________________________________________________

[] WIETIE WHAT-WHAT:

FIETAS ( reprise )

Hulle het ons lewe uitgeskop

En expensive huise gebou

Maa' die boere wil nie intrek

Hulle sê die koelies het die plek getoor

Wan' daa's 'n Arab

In a wit rok

Wat elke aan'

Deur die huise loop

Maa' ons ken mos anners

Dis net die spook

Van Imam Piesaingkie

Bra Frooks is ...

[] nes 'n skollie

[] 'n egte skollie

[] 'n tsotsi

[] a real scamp

[] streetwise

[] the jokerman

Bra Frooks ...

[] praat soos 'n skollie

[] wietie soos 'n joster

[] wietie what-what

[] tunes like a durbanite

[] speaks like an englishman

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat

is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $15 & kindle @ only $5

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics

#faroukasvat #weapons of words #comparative literature #literary criticism

#a celebration of flames #fietas (reprise)

www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

05 May 2015

WHAT THE COMRADE SAID ...

I was only following orders

My sister
So I buried the hatchet
In his skull
So we buried our differences
In the graveyard
So we levelled the playing field
With their bodies
Because if you ask questions
In the dead of night
My sister
You are dead

composed: 05.10.1989 [Johannesburg, South Africa under apartheid].

[] Acknowledgements:

What The Comrade Said To His Sister was previously published in:

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p95, 2006);

     www.faroukasvat-lingo.blogspot.com (30.10.2012);
     www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com (05.05..2015);
     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (kindle, 2014);
     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p93, 2014).

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

without the prior permission of the author in writing.

Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.

Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,

is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

farouk asvat can be contacted at: farouk.asvat@gmail.com

[] please check out my blogs @:

farouk asvat - poems: www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

weapons of words: www.faroukasvat-viewpoint.blogspot.com

piquante ! : www.faroukasvat-piquant.blogspot.com

books by farouk asvat: www.faroukasvat-books.blogspot.com

[] also link up on:

google+ : https://plus.google.com/116303232543019349765

linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/farouk-asvat/42/6b6/52a

twitter: www.twitter.com/faroukasvat

facebook: www.facebook.com/faroukasvat

amazon kindle author @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books

www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat