I have been working on the “Rietpypie” poem since April—the pace is glacial, but an end is in sight. In the meantime, two distinct versions of the poem have emerged from the original sketch (a continuing trend): “Karkar”¹ (hitherto “Rietpypie”) and “Karkarflower” (a working title).

1. After one of its numerous Afrikaans common names: Karkarblom. “Karkar” (pronounced [kaRkaR] with a trilled [R]) is onomatopoeic, referring to the sound produced when rubbing the ribbed dry leaves together, and “blom” (with the [o] a shortened version of that in “or”) means “flower”.

“Karkar” has three stanzas: one is finished; two, all but so; three yet to be resolved (that is to say, each of its variations refined and the most suitable one selected for the final composition). I am confident that August will see it completed, whereupon I shall start on “Karkarflower”.