The veld experiences a The phrase Small roots
revival as it is replenished by explode in strings of stars
the rains evokes a vivid image of
These rains are described as 1 Again the veld revives, Imbued with lyric rains, roots growing rapidly and
abundantly, resembling a
lyric, suggesting they bring a
poetic or musical quality to And sap re-sweetening dry stalks
2 burst of starlight
Each bulb gives up its
the landscape
The once-dry plants are Perfumes the quickening plains;
3 dream suggests that the
plant bulbs are fulfilling
rejuvenated by the returning their potential by
sap
The scents from the 4 Small roots explode in strings of stars, blooming
Honey drips from orchid
revitalized plants spread
across the plains, symbolizing
Each bulb gives up its dream,
5 throats depicts the orchids
producing sweet nectar,
the rejuvenation of the Honey drips from orchid throats,
6 emphasizing their vitality
entire area
Jewels each raceme; 7
and beauty
Jewels each raceme likens
the flower clusters
The line The desert sighs at dawn (racemes) to precious
personifies the desert, suggesting
a sense of relief and renewal
The desert sighs at dawn -
8 gems, highlighting their
ornamental and valuable
with the arrival of morning
The comparison As in another
As in another hemisphere
9 appearance
hemisphere implies a connection 10 The temple lotus breaks her buds.
between distant places through
natural cycles. On the attentive air -
11
The phrase A frou-frou of
new flowers conveys the
The temple lotus breaks her buds soft rustling sound made by
symbolizes purity and spiritual newly blooming flowers
awakening, occurring
simultaneously in another part of A frou-frou of new flowers,
12 Puff of unruffling petals
evokes the gentle
the world
On the attentive air suggests Puff of unruffling petals,
13 movement and opening of
flower petals
that the air is perceptive, ready14
to witness and embrace these
While rods of sunlight strike pure streams While rods of sunlight
strike pure streams
changes From rocks beveined with metals:
15
describes sunlight beams
illuminating clear streams
The stanza describes the Karoo, a From rocks beveined with
semi-desert region in South Far in the gaunt karroo
16 metals suggests that the
streams flow from rocks
Africa, during winter when the That winter earth denudes,
17
that are rich with metal
landscape appears barren and
stripped of life 18 Ironstone caves give back the burr veins, enhancing the
imagery of natural beauty
It portrays ironstone caves
echoing with the sounds of
Of lambs in multitudes;
19
numerous lambs, suggesting a The lines depict the rejuvenation
return of life despite the harsh of vegetation after drought
conditions 20Grass waves again where drought Grass waves again suggests the
return of lushness to previously
The word gaunt emphasizes the
harsh and stark nature of the
Bleached every upland kraal,
21 barren areas
The mention of bleached every
Karoo landscape during this season
The stanza contrasts the
22 A peach-tree shoots along the wind upland kraal indicates the impact
desolation of winter with 23 Pink volleys through a broken wall, of drought on livestock
resilience symbolized by the The imagery of a peach-tree
presence of multitudes of lambs, shoots along the wind and pink
echoing in the ironstone caves 24 And willows growing round the dam volleys through a broken wall
symbolizes nature reclaiming
These lines depict a scene where
willow trees are growing near a
Mmay now be seen 25 human-altered spaces with new
growth and blossoms
dam with all their traceries of twigs
26
The trees are described as showing
intricate patterns of twigs Just hesitating to be green, transformation
27 These lines describe the imminent
of willow trees into
They are on the verge of turning hosts for colonies of birds
green, suggesting the arrival of
spring or the onset of growth. 28 Soon to be hung with colonies The nests will sway gently with the
leaves of the willow trees
The imagery conveys a moment of
anticipation and potential as nature 29 All swaying with the leaves. The nests are described as hanging
wicker structures designed for love
prepares for renewal 30 Of pendent wicker love-nests and reproduction, crafted by the
loxia bird
The pretty loxia weaves
31 The imagery suggests a peaceful and
harmonious scene where nature and
wildlife coexist in the rejuvenated
landscape
, The light being turned on symbolizes
exposure and the disruption of a
hidden world
1 Turn on the light
The cockroaches' immediate reaction
to the light is to flee, highlighting their 2 and helter-skelter
instinct to seek darkness and safety
Their movement is described as helter-
skelter, emphasizing chaos and urgency they scuttle3
The dark shelters represent a place of
refuge and security for the 4 to their dark shelters. Cut them off from their hideouts
indicates a deliberate attempt to
cockroaches prevent the cockroaches from
The imagery of scuttling to dark reaching safety
shelters also underscores the contrast
between light and darkness, visibility Cut them off
5 Block their many approaches
emphasizes the strategic effort to
and concealment, drawing attention to obstruct all possible escape routes
the thin line between safety and 6From their hideouts These actions showcase a methodical
danger in the natural world approach to controlling or eradicating
block 7 the cockroaches
The intensity of the effort suggests a
These lines depict the consequences of 8 their many approaches significant disturbance to the
cockroaches' natural behavior and
blocking the cockroaches' paths to their
habitat
hiding places
The action disrupts the cockroaches'
9and see cockroaches This deliberate intervention highlights
sense of safety and security, causing a power dynamic where humans exert
them to react with frantic movement. in hopeless flurry
10 control over the cockroaches'
environment
The phrase in hopeless flurry suggests a
state of panic and desperation among
the cockroaches
and helpless worry.
11
The methodical blocking of escape
routes may symbolize a broader theme
Helpless worry implies a sense of of restricting freedom or safety for
vulnerability and fear, highlighting their beings deemed undesirable
instinctive response to perceived danger But 12
The poet contrasts the earlier scene But: the poet questions the moral
where the cockroaches scuttle to
safety, now showing them trapped and
13 who ordained authority behind human actions
towards cockroaches
distressed
These lines emphasize the impact of 14 the crash-fall The phrase crash-fall of sandals evokes
a sudden and forceful act of violence.
human interference on the natural
behavior and habitat of these creatures, It highlights the abruptness and finality
portraying a moment of chaos and of sandals
15 of human intervention in the lives of
vulnerability in their lives these creatures
There's a questioning of whether their
on these
16
Shy creatures suggests a contrast
between their perceived timidity and the
harshness of human actions
preference for darkness makes them
inherently suspicious or worthy of scrutiny 17 shy creatures? There's a tone of introspection,
The notion of love of darkness implies a deep- questioning the justification for killing
based on instinctual behavior
seated affinity for environments that humans
typically find discomforting or unsettling Or 18
It raises ethical concerns about the
treatment of beings perceived as pests.
This could symbolize a broader human The use of ordained implies a sense of
tendency to attribute negative traits to
creatures based on their habitat preferences
is it their love
19 inevitability or divine sanction to human
actions, questioning if such actions are
It invites reflection on how human
perceptions and biases shape our interactions of darkness
20
justified or natural
These lines provoke thought about the
with and attitudes toward other species. ethics of human dominance over other
They highlight the complexity of human- 21 holds them suspect? species and the consequences of our
animal relationships and the ethical dilemmas interventions
that arise from our interactions with the
natural world
revival as it is replenished by explode in strings of stars
the rains evokes a vivid image of
These rains are described as 1 Again the veld revives, Imbued with lyric rains, roots growing rapidly and
abundantly, resembling a
lyric, suggesting they bring a
poetic or musical quality to And sap re-sweetening dry stalks
2 burst of starlight
Each bulb gives up its
the landscape
The once-dry plants are Perfumes the quickening plains;
3 dream suggests that the
plant bulbs are fulfilling
rejuvenated by the returning their potential by
sap
The scents from the 4 Small roots explode in strings of stars, blooming
Honey drips from orchid
revitalized plants spread
across the plains, symbolizing
Each bulb gives up its dream,
5 throats depicts the orchids
producing sweet nectar,
the rejuvenation of the Honey drips from orchid throats,
6 emphasizing their vitality
entire area
Jewels each raceme; 7
and beauty
Jewels each raceme likens
the flower clusters
The line The desert sighs at dawn (racemes) to precious
personifies the desert, suggesting
a sense of relief and renewal
The desert sighs at dawn -
8 gems, highlighting their
ornamental and valuable
with the arrival of morning
The comparison As in another
As in another hemisphere
9 appearance
hemisphere implies a connection 10 The temple lotus breaks her buds.
between distant places through
natural cycles. On the attentive air -
11
The phrase A frou-frou of
new flowers conveys the
The temple lotus breaks her buds soft rustling sound made by
symbolizes purity and spiritual newly blooming flowers
awakening, occurring
simultaneously in another part of A frou-frou of new flowers,
12 Puff of unruffling petals
evokes the gentle
the world
On the attentive air suggests Puff of unruffling petals,
13 movement and opening of
flower petals
that the air is perceptive, ready14
to witness and embrace these
While rods of sunlight strike pure streams While rods of sunlight
strike pure streams
changes From rocks beveined with metals:
15
describes sunlight beams
illuminating clear streams
The stanza describes the Karoo, a From rocks beveined with
semi-desert region in South Far in the gaunt karroo
16 metals suggests that the
streams flow from rocks
Africa, during winter when the That winter earth denudes,
17
that are rich with metal
landscape appears barren and
stripped of life 18 Ironstone caves give back the burr veins, enhancing the
imagery of natural beauty
It portrays ironstone caves
echoing with the sounds of
Of lambs in multitudes;
19
numerous lambs, suggesting a The lines depict the rejuvenation
return of life despite the harsh of vegetation after drought
conditions 20Grass waves again where drought Grass waves again suggests the
return of lushness to previously
The word gaunt emphasizes the
harsh and stark nature of the
Bleached every upland kraal,
21 barren areas
The mention of bleached every
Karoo landscape during this season
The stanza contrasts the
22 A peach-tree shoots along the wind upland kraal indicates the impact
desolation of winter with 23 Pink volleys through a broken wall, of drought on livestock
resilience symbolized by the The imagery of a peach-tree
presence of multitudes of lambs, shoots along the wind and pink
echoing in the ironstone caves 24 And willows growing round the dam volleys through a broken wall
symbolizes nature reclaiming
These lines depict a scene where
willow trees are growing near a
Mmay now be seen 25 human-altered spaces with new
growth and blossoms
dam with all their traceries of twigs
26
The trees are described as showing
intricate patterns of twigs Just hesitating to be green, transformation
27 These lines describe the imminent
of willow trees into
They are on the verge of turning hosts for colonies of birds
green, suggesting the arrival of
spring or the onset of growth. 28 Soon to be hung with colonies The nests will sway gently with the
leaves of the willow trees
The imagery conveys a moment of
anticipation and potential as nature 29 All swaying with the leaves. The nests are described as hanging
wicker structures designed for love
prepares for renewal 30 Of pendent wicker love-nests and reproduction, crafted by the
loxia bird
The pretty loxia weaves
31 The imagery suggests a peaceful and
harmonious scene where nature and
wildlife coexist in the rejuvenated
landscape
, The light being turned on symbolizes
exposure and the disruption of a
hidden world
1 Turn on the light
The cockroaches' immediate reaction
to the light is to flee, highlighting their 2 and helter-skelter
instinct to seek darkness and safety
Their movement is described as helter-
skelter, emphasizing chaos and urgency they scuttle3
The dark shelters represent a place of
refuge and security for the 4 to their dark shelters. Cut them off from their hideouts
indicates a deliberate attempt to
cockroaches prevent the cockroaches from
The imagery of scuttling to dark reaching safety
shelters also underscores the contrast
between light and darkness, visibility Cut them off
5 Block their many approaches
emphasizes the strategic effort to
and concealment, drawing attention to obstruct all possible escape routes
the thin line between safety and 6From their hideouts These actions showcase a methodical
danger in the natural world approach to controlling or eradicating
block 7 the cockroaches
The intensity of the effort suggests a
These lines depict the consequences of 8 their many approaches significant disturbance to the
cockroaches' natural behavior and
blocking the cockroaches' paths to their
habitat
hiding places
The action disrupts the cockroaches'
9and see cockroaches This deliberate intervention highlights
sense of safety and security, causing a power dynamic where humans exert
them to react with frantic movement. in hopeless flurry
10 control over the cockroaches'
environment
The phrase in hopeless flurry suggests a
state of panic and desperation among
the cockroaches
and helpless worry.
11
The methodical blocking of escape
routes may symbolize a broader theme
Helpless worry implies a sense of of restricting freedom or safety for
vulnerability and fear, highlighting their beings deemed undesirable
instinctive response to perceived danger But 12
The poet contrasts the earlier scene But: the poet questions the moral
where the cockroaches scuttle to
safety, now showing them trapped and
13 who ordained authority behind human actions
towards cockroaches
distressed
These lines emphasize the impact of 14 the crash-fall The phrase crash-fall of sandals evokes
a sudden and forceful act of violence.
human interference on the natural
behavior and habitat of these creatures, It highlights the abruptness and finality
portraying a moment of chaos and of sandals
15 of human intervention in the lives of
vulnerability in their lives these creatures
There's a questioning of whether their
on these
16
Shy creatures suggests a contrast
between their perceived timidity and the
harshness of human actions
preference for darkness makes them
inherently suspicious or worthy of scrutiny 17 shy creatures? There's a tone of introspection,
The notion of love of darkness implies a deep- questioning the justification for killing
based on instinctual behavior
seated affinity for environments that humans
typically find discomforting or unsettling Or 18
It raises ethical concerns about the
treatment of beings perceived as pests.
This could symbolize a broader human The use of ordained implies a sense of
tendency to attribute negative traits to
creatures based on their habitat preferences
is it their love
19 inevitability or divine sanction to human
actions, questioning if such actions are
It invites reflection on how human
perceptions and biases shape our interactions of darkness
20
justified or natural
These lines provoke thought about the
with and attitudes toward other species. ethics of human dominance over other
They highlight the complexity of human- 21 holds them suspect? species and the consequences of our
animal relationships and the ethical dilemmas interventions
that arise from our interactions with the
natural world
