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Synapse
Antjie Krog’s career as a poet began with resistance to language and authority. This was more than simply youthful rebellion – it was a desire to free language itself from all constraints. In this, her first book of poetry in eight years, Krog once again disrupts language to create new meaning as she re-engages with her deep attachment to the land of her birth and its complex history. Amongst poems expressing her anger at social injustice, there are poems on the nature of memory and conscience and touching family poems about generations – future and past – in which everyday conversations resound. There are also poems about leave-taking, of which a tribute to Mandela is a highlight. Throughout, the language is raised to a new intensity. Synapse is the work of one of South Africa’s finest voices. Also available in Afrikaans as Mede-wete.
- GenresPoetry
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2014
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About the author
Antjie Krog
60 books97 followersKrog grew up on a farm, attending primary and secondary school in Kroonstad. In 1973 she earned a BA (Hons) degree in English from the University of the Orange Free State, and an MA in Afrikaans from the University of Pretoria in 1976. With a teaching diploma from the University of South Africa (UNISA) she would lecture at a segregated teacher’s training college for black South Africans.
She is married to architect John Samuel and has four children: Andries, Susan, Philip, and Willem. In 2004 she joined the Arts faculty of the University of the Western Cape.
She is married to architect John Samuel and has four children: Andries, Susan, Philip, and Willem. In 2004 she joined the Arts faculty of the University of the Western Cape.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 1, 2019
Ontzettend bijzonder en mooi. De extra laag van de vreemde maar toch grotendeels verstaanbare taal - het Afrikaans - voegt voor mij, Nederlandse lezer, een laag toe. Het vertraagt mijn lezen en vergroot mijn aandacht. Om oneindig te herlezen en koesteren.
September 27, 2020
An overwhelmingly literary collection written for academics or other poets.
The book included some story poems, which I enjoy as a rule: the thirteen poems collected as "die werf", as well as "sondagmiddagete", "om in 'n dogtertjie se kamer te slaap", "connected in berlyn" and half of "bediendepraatjies". (The employer's half of the conversation rings true to life and is subtly nuanced; I'm not convinced that the maid's half is a success. I understand that it is intended as counterpoint, and read in an interview that she even intended the translation to be questionable. I did notice that. Maybe I lack the necessary frame of reference to make sense of it, but it didn't work for me.)
Most of the poems are linguistically dense and "at the limits of figurability", as one of the journal articles referenced describe the work of Paul Celan, which heavily influenced Mede-wete. There were fragments and phrases that caught my attention and even took my breath away, buy a lot of the time the syllables flowed past without leaving any clear impression. It would be interesting to compare the English and Afrikaans versions.
Unfortunately my e-reader detracted further from the poems, as even the smallest font size truncated lines, messing up the rhythm unless I paid close attention.
But perhaps that's how the entire correction should be read: with close attention (and possibly a dictionary). A superficial reading can't do it justice.
The book included some story poems, which I enjoy as a rule: the thirteen poems collected as "die werf", as well as "sondagmiddagete", "om in 'n dogtertjie se kamer te slaap", "connected in berlyn" and half of "bediendepraatjies". (The employer's half of the conversation rings true to life and is subtly nuanced; I'm not convinced that the maid's half is a success. I understand that it is intended as counterpoint, and read in an interview that she even intended the translation to be questionable. I did notice that. Maybe I lack the necessary frame of reference to make sense of it, but it didn't work for me.)
Most of the poems are linguistically dense and "at the limits of figurability", as one of the journal articles referenced describe the work of Paul Celan, which heavily influenced Mede-wete. There were fragments and phrases that caught my attention and even took my breath away, buy a lot of the time the syllables flowed past without leaving any clear impression. It would be interesting to compare the English and Afrikaans versions.
Unfortunately my e-reader detracted further from the poems, as even the smallest font size truncated lines, messing up the rhythm unless I paid close attention.
But perhaps that's how the entire correction should be read: with close attention (and possibly a dictionary). A superficial reading can't do it justice.
September 4, 2020
Een ontstellend rijke bundel die het intieme paart met het maatschappelijke, bijvoorbeeld wanneer ze bij de geboorte van een kleinzoon begint te mijmeren over de privileges die hem als witte man staat te wachten, die zich uitstrekt van het grote universum tot de bacteriën die rondkrioelen van mens naar mens op de bus. Filosofisch, maar ook lijfelijk in de versmelting van taal tot nieuwe woorden. Vol boosheid in 'Vrouwe Justitia gebundeld', vol warmte in het gedicht 'bemind worden door een dichter' voor Veerle, de weduwe van Hugo Claus. Uiteindelijk zoekt de hele bundel om de kloof met de Ander te benoemen, te overbruggen en het falen van die poging in kaart te brengen.
April 11, 2016
Wat een prachtige gedichtenbundel.
Vooral de gedichten opgedragen aan Mandela zijn mooi in hun integriteit.
Vooral de gedichten opgedragen aan Mandela zijn mooi in hun integriteit.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews