Boy/A Child Dreaming

Boy

by

Este Macleod

Compiled by Njabulo Ngobese

Drawing and painting has been a life long passion for Este Macleod who was born in Pretoria in 1968. In 1994 she obtained a Higher National Diploma in Textile Design at the Pretoria Technikon. At that time she was also studying fine arts with ceramics, printmaking and jewellery design as subjects. Since then she has been working mainly as a studio cramicist and painter. She does book illustrations and jewellery design, works on commissions and projects, takes part in group and solo exhibitions and occasionally holds workshops.

Este's love for travelling and exposure to various cultures has served as inspiration for her work. She currently lives on a farm with her husband and son close to Henley-on-Thames in England. At present, she is continuing her studies in ceramics and glass and works as an artist.

Poem:

KIND WAT DROOM

Zandra Bezuidenhout

Ek is ‘n kind. Ek droom

ek word ‘n witkruisarend

of ‘n reuse geelhoutboom.

Wonders kan gebeur

as jul my lewe respekteer.

Ek vra dat jul my regte

op die hart sal dra.

Laat my in veiligheid

op hierdie aarde woon.

dat ek kan groei en blom

om sonder vrees

te word wat ek moet wees.

(Language: Afrikaans)

A CHILD DREAMING

English translation: Zandra Bezuidenhout

I am a child of many dreams:

I’d love to be a soaring eagle

or a lofty yellowwood tree.

Wonders might happen

if I am treated with respect,

as children’s rights are rooted

in a moral alphabet.

I pray that you will from today

respect my life in every way,

that I may grow and flourish fearlessly

until one day I do become

the person I was meant to be.

A Brief Biography of Zandra Bezuidenhout

Zandra Bezuidenhout (1945- ) was born in the Strand, Western Cape. She studied at the University of Stellenbosch and has been working in the teaching and language professions for many years. She and her husband have been married for 40 years and their three grown-up children remain their pride and joy. Zandra was awarded the Ingrid Jonker prize for poetry in 2001. After furthering her studies locally and in the Netherlands, when the children flew the nest, she obtained her doctorate in Afrikaans and Dutch literature in 2005.

Zandra works as a part-time lecturer, freelance journalist and translator. She loves music, theatre and art, and looks forward to compiling educational material related to languages and culture.