Abstract
The term ‘kerkhofgedig’ (‘churchyard poem’) does not feature in academic discussions on Afrikaans poetry, neither does it appear in Cloete’s authoritative work of reference, Literêre terme en teorieë (1992). There are mainly three reasons for this omission in Afrikaans literature. In the first place the Afrikaans word ‘elegie’ (elegy) has become a superordinate for most poems dealing with grief or melancholy about a certain event or condition, for example, a lamentation, obituary poem, dirge, requiem, et cetera. Secondly, graveyard poetry is associated with (English) poems and poets from the 18th century, not with more contemporary Afrikaans poets. In the third place, the elegy and the churchyard poem are related poetic forms which share many characteristics, making it difficult to distinguish between the two genres. In Afrikaans literature the churchyard poem is therefore not regarded as an independent poetic form with unique features, as is the case with churchyard poetry in English, French, German and Dutch. Nevertheless, a number of Afrikaans poets have written churchyard poetry over the decades. In this article it will be determined whether Afrikaans graveyard poetry does in fact exist. This will be accomplished by providing a historical background to graveyard poetry and by comparing traditional graveyard poems to modern poems. Then churchyard poetry will be compared to the elegy. In conclusion a clear definition for graveyard poetry will be formulated. The following questions will consequently be answered: What is graveyard poetry and does it exist in Afrikaans?
Highlights
Die term ‘kerkhofgedig’ word selde in akademiese gesprekke oor die Afrikaanse poësie gehoor en dit kom nie voor in T.T
Nietemin is daar ’n paar Afrikaanse digters wat dié digvorm deur die dekades heen beoefen het
The elegy and the churchyard poem are related poetic forms which share many characteristics, making it difficult to distinguish between the two genres
Summary
Meditasies in ’n begraafplaas: ’n Verkenning van Afrikaanse grafdigters en kerkhofpoësie. In hierdie artikel sal daar bepaal word of Afrikaanse kerkhofpoësie wel bestaan. Die volgende vrae word dus in hierdie artikel beantwoord: Wat is kerkhofpoësie en bestaan daar so ’n digvorm in Afrikaans?. A number of Afrikaans poets have written churchyard poetry over the decades In this article it will be determined whether Afrikaans graveyard poetry does exist. Inleiding ‘Graveyard poetry’ of ‘churchyard poems’ verwys na ’n digvorm wat sy ontstaan tydens die agtiende eeu in Engeland gehad het en beoefen is deur sogenaamde ‘graveyard poets’ of, soos hulle soms spottenderwys genoem is, die ‘Boneyard Boys’.Alhoewel hulle nooit ’n formele letterkundebeweging was nie, praat twintigste-eeuse literatuurhistorici dikwels van dié groep digters as die ‘Graveyard School of Poetry’ (Reynolds 2014:86, Van Gorp 1991:168). As voorloper van die Gotiese roman en die literatuur van die Romantiek (1789–1830), bevat hierdie gedigte dikwels grieselrige elemente soos verwysings na skedels, uile, maaiers, dwalende geeste, maanlig en ’n huilende wind http://www.literator.org.za
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