Die Kettie

I grew up in an area close to several small dams and a number of blue gum (Eucalyptus) tree plantations. The trees served as nesting places for a variety of bird species chief of which was the turtle dove. At weekends and during school holidays I would spend many happy hours in the plantations “hunting” turtle doves with my trusty homemade catapult which consisted of a forked stick with a length of elastic (cut from an inner tube) attached at one end to each of the two forks and a patch of leather joining the two lengths of elastic at the other.  Had I relied on my hunting ability to feed myself I would have frequently gone hungry but at the time I imagined I was a master hunter. The commonly used Afrikaans word for a catapult is “kettie” and this poem is accordingly titled “DIE KETTIE”.

Die Kettie

Met n rekker van n trekker binneband

En ʼn mikstok van n bloekomboom in hand

Was ek die bobaas kleinwild jagter

Geseen met bomenslik spoorsnykragte

Om troppe voels van eenderse vere

Plus hope ander ongedierte menere

Te laat les opsê met onfeilbare skoot

En ʼn spoelklip as boodskapper van die dood