Atlas Booth
Ek Loop

Wanneer die son nog slaap en die dou teen alles klou, loop ek.

Die maan is niks behalwe 'n splinter in die lug en die sterre is dof. 'n Stralekrans van rustige
kalmte word bewerkstellig op die aarde. Skerp kante vervaag deur die vermenging van skaduwees.

Die lug is sterk in my longe. Vars beskryf skaars die krag van die koue soos dit in jou kern
insypel. Dit voel goed.

In die afwesigheid van die oneindige, vermoeiende lig; loop ek.

Ek het my pas wat ek byhou, ongehaas. Ek kan my gedagtes vanself laat wakker word. Ek
kan my liggaam die vryheid van spanning toelaat.

My gedagtes, wat stadig en op dieselfde tyd jaag, met voortgesette drome en gedagtes half gevul.

In die gebrek van waargenome bestaan, loop ek.

Ek het 'n bestemming in gedagte wat my lei. Al my sintuie het vir my verstand oorgeneem.
Alles behalwe my sig.

In plaas daarvan voel my vel die nabyheid soos 'n vlermuis en sy gehuil. My gehoor tel die
krieke, die uile, die swaai stof agter my op. Laat my toe om op te tel of daar een of twee
agter my is en ek systap om die vinniger pas deur te laat.

Hierdie een stel meer belang om sy bestemming te bereik as ek. Wil uit die koue uit. Sy
overalls so hard soos 'n saag in hierdie nag. Hy verdwyn soos hy aangekom het.

Maar ek glimlag en ek voel, en ek loop.

I Walk (translated)

When the sun is still asleep and the dew perches on everything, I walk.

The moon is but a sliver in the sky and the stars are dim. Paving a halo of calm serenity on
the earth. Sharp edges blurred by the blending of shadows.

The air is strong in my lungs. Crisp hardly describes the power of the cold as it seeps into
your core. It's a good feeling though.

In the absence of the unending, tiring light; I walk.

I have my pace that I keep by, unhurried. I can let my mind wake up on its own. I can allow
my body the freedom from tension. 

My mind, slow and racing at the same time, continuing dreams and thoughts half filled. 

In the lack of perceived existence, I walk.

I have a destination in mind that guides me. All my senses have taken over for my mind. All
but my sight. 

Instead, my skin feels the proximity like a bat and its cries. My hearing picks up the crickets,
the owls, the swish of fabric behind me. Allows me to pick up if one or two are behind me
and I side step to let the faster pace through.

This one is more interested in reaching his destination than I. Wants out of the cold. His
overalls as loud as a saw in this night. He disappears like he arrived.

But I smile and I feel, and I walk.