PoetryNetArchive
Tuis /
Home
Briewe /
Letters
Kennisgewings /
Notices
Skakels /
Links
Boeke /
Books
Onderhoude /
Interviews
Fiksie /
Fiction
Poësie /
Poetry
Taaldebat /
Language debate
Opiniestukke /
Essays
Rubrieke /
Columns
Kos & Wyn /
Food & Wine
Film /
Film
Teater /
Theatre
Musiek /
Music
Resensies /
Reviews
Nuus /
News
Spesiale projekte /
Special projects
Slypskole /
Workshops
Opvoedkunde /
Education
Artikels /
Features
Geestelike literatuur /
Religious literature
Visueel /
Visual
Reis /
Travel
Expatliteratuur /
Expat literature
Gayliteratuur /
Gay literature
Xhosa
Zulu
Nederlands /
Dutch
Hygliteratuur /
Erotic literature
Bieg /
Confess
Sport
In Memoriam
Wie is ons? /
More on LitNet
Adverteer op LitNet /
Advertise on LitNet
LitNet is ’n onafhanklike joernaal op die Internet, en word as gesamentlike onderneming deur Ligitprops 3042 BK en Media24 bedryf.

Thousand Cat Health Hazard Blues

Kerryn Potgieter

It's a beautiful night babe.
The moon's drunk and the stars are slurring.
There was a pile-up on the highway
But for once I wasn't in it.
I almost brought you flowers
But then imagined you laughing
So I brought you home a homeless guy instead.

Babe, all I've got left is my sick sense of humour
and that postcard that you sent me.
The picture's kind of faded
but the words are still there.
Good thing that I've forgotten how to read.
Chaining words to paper like that
just ain't right.

When I find my way out of this blind alley
I'll look you up.
Just as soon as I find my sense of direction
I'll be turning my toes towards you.
Ah babe, tonight's more beautiful than most.
The trains are almost on time
and on the platform a beautiful girl pretended
not to see me haggling with my dealer.

Somehow this love song's lost its thread.
Which is just as well because I don't believe in singing
unless it's for my supper.

I heard you laughing over the telephone wires.
And it nearly made me want to call you.
But then I remembered that the operator doesn't like my voice
so I painted you a letter instead.
But my wise-cracks were all lost in translation.
Whoever said a picture's worth a thousand words
never heard the thousand words I’ve got in mind

for and about you.

Ah babe...it's a beautiful night tonight
Most likely you’re dying for a cigarette
and I'm just dying for you.
And all the while this wind is howling
like a young and lonely winter.

The moon slept with some stranger
she picked up in a bar.
Even though it wasn’t me
It wasn’t your arms I woke up in.
That’s the real trouble with never sleeping.

Babe all I wanted to tell you is it's a beautiful night.
But I lost my inspiration
somewhere half way down this serenade.

It's just as well you never listen to a word I say.
It's the only reason that I tell you every thing I do.



LitNet: 08 November 2005

Did you enjoy this poem? Have your say! Send your comments to webvoet@litnet.co.za, and become a part of our interactive opinion page. Or submit your own poetry to Michelle McGrane for consideration.

back    /     to the top


© Kopiereg in die ontwerp en inhoud van hierdie webruimte behoort aan LitNet, uitgesluit die kopiereg in bydraes wat berus by die outeurs wat sodanige bydraes verskaf. LitNet streef na die plasing van oorspronklike materiaal en na die oop en onbeperkte uitruil van idees en menings. Die menings van bydraers tot hierdie werftuiste is dus hul eie en weerspieël nie noodwendig die mening van die redaksie en bestuur van LitNet nie. LitNet kan ongelukkig ook nie waarborg dat hierdie diens ononderbroke of foutloos sal wees nie en gebruikers wat steun op inligting wat hier verskaf word, doen dit op hul eie risiko. Media24, M-Web, Ligitprops 3042 BK en die bestuur en redaksie van LitNet aanvaar derhalwe geen aanspreeklikheid vir enige regstreekse of onregstreekse verlies of skade wat uit sodanige bydraes of die verskaffing van hierdie diens spruit nie. LitNet is ’n onafhanklike joernaal op die Internet, en word as gesamentlike onderneming deur Ligitprops 3042 BK en Media24 bedryf.