Skoolseunblues deur Johan van Wyk - Afrikaans Poem Summary and Translation

Poem Translation

Afrikaans

agter in die skoolbus het Jesse geleer

hoe om te rook

het sy gewys tot waar sy beenhare skeer

agter in die skoolbus 

het sy geleer om ‘n seun te vry

om tekens te wys 

het sy ‘n ballpointpunthart geteken

met die naam van haar onnie

 

Jesse Jesse my stem is gebreek 

en ek het nog nooit gerook

of met die tong gesoen nie

 

sy dans met getroude mans

in die katolieke kerk

op Sondae sit sy in ‘n sportmotor by die park

sy het ‘n ou in die army

sy het ‘n ou op Hennenman

sy draai die onnie om haar pinkie

ma sê Jesse het niks tussen haar ore nie

dan kyk ma in haar spieëltjie

 

Jesse Jesse my stem is gebreek

en ek het nog nooit gerook 

of met die tong gesoen nie

English

at the back of the school bus Jesse learnt

how to smoke

she shows where she shaves her legs

at the back of the school bus 

she learnt how to set a boy free

to show drawings

she drew a ballpoint heart

with the name of her teacher inside

 

Jesse Jesse my voice has broken

and I haven't smoked

or kissed with tongue

 

she dances with married man

in the catholic church

on Sunday she sits in a sports car at the park

she has a man in the army

she has a man in Hennenman (small town)

she has the teacher wrapped around her pinkie

mom says Jesse has nothing between her ears 

then mom looks in her mirror

 

Jesse Jesse my voice has broken

and I haven't smoked

or kissed with tongue