Observations placeholder

The First Bushman’s Path:  stories, Songs and testimonies of the /Xam of the Northern Cape - The Foolishness of the Little Hare

You think that you will not see your mother alive again
You think that your mother has really died and left you
But stop crying and listen to me

I who am the moon have told you that she will return alive
I have told you that she will return to you early tomorrow
Now shut your mouth and stop crying

You who are a little orphan must be quiet, you must hear me
You must wait for your mother to come back to you tomorrow
Let your mouth be quiet little hare

But you do not listen to me and you say that I deceive you
And you contradict me and you keep on with your crying
Be quiet, or I shall beat your mouth

You must keep quiet, you must listen, because I speak to you
Because I who am the moon am telling you what I surely know
I the moon know and you do not know

I know because I am the moon and I return to life when I die
I live and I die and I come back again, living, as a new moon
But you are a hare and you do not know

Your hare eyes are enormous and they are yellow with shining
And they pour out many tears and they roll with foolishness
You are a hare, you will always be a hare

And your hare ears that you keep shut are ears that are foolish
For they do not hear what I say, you do not listen with them
You are therefore a fool and speak foolishly

But I know the truth of what I tell you for I am the moon
I know what I am telling you, I understand what I am saying
So keep your mouth still, keep your mouth quiet

You are a little orphan you are a hare, you are not clever
You are foolish and you eat bushes and you run about at night
Your hare ears are red and you are a fool

I am telling you to be silent, I am telling you not to cry
I am telling you to keep your mouth shut, but you will not
And therefore I shall beat your mouth