I've come to take you home --
home, remember the veld?
the lush green grass beneath the big oak trees
the air is cool there and the sun does not burn.
I have made your bed at the foot of the hill,
your blankets are covered in buchu and mint,
the proteas stand in yellow and white
and the water in the stream chuckle sing-songs
as it hobbles along over little stones.
I have come to wrench you away -
away from the poking eyes
of the man-made monster
who lives in the dark
with his clutches of imperialism
who dissects your body bit by bit
who likens your soul to that of Satan
and declares himself the ultimate god!
I have come to soothe your heavy heart
I offer my bosom to your weary soul
I will cover your face with the palms of my hands
I will run my lips over lines in your neck
I will feast my eyes on the beauty of you
and I will sing for you
for I have come to bring you peace.
I have come to take you home
where the ancient mountains shout your name.
I have made your bed at the foot of the hill,
your blankets are covered in buchu and mint,
the proteas stand in yellow and white -
I have come to take you home
where I will sing for you, for
you have brought me peace.
you have brought us peace.
Born in Worcester on the 29 August, 1953, the third born of six children and the daughter of Ann and Jacobus Ferrus.
Completed BA degree with Industrial Psychology and Sociology as majors in 1993. Started BA Honours ("Women's and Gender Studies") in 1997 and completed in 1999.
Diana belongs to a women's writers group called WEAVE ("Women's Education & Artistic Voice Expression") and in 2002 their book "ink@boilingpoint" was published.
Her short story, "Sarah will be home, a story of restoration" and her poem, "I've come to take you home", is included.
She is also a founder member of "Bush Poets", an all women poet group from the University of the Western Cape.
Founder member of the Afrikaans Writers Association ("Afrikaanse Skrywersvereniging") and "Women in X-chains".