Gert Strydom, 10 july 2014
With age-old masts creaking,
cursed by Godly wrath,
just before the worst storms in the Cape do begin
an ancient ship is sighted sailing
as a token to break the scorn and blasphemy of man
or so the legend says, with a skeleton at the wheel
of the Flying Dutchman, full of ungodly sailors
who forever glare at each other with thoughts of revenge,
as a spectre strait out of the portals of hell
and if I do remember correctly
there is no salvation or sleep for anyone aboard
and everything turns around the love of a woman
that lived in the most beautiful Cape
and now I wonder how long that ship is still going to sail
as every now and then some seamen do notice it.
Gert Strydom, 10 july 2014
(after I.D. du Plessis)
Catharine of the Western Cape
was caught by passion last night
and she knows that nobody will understand
and this morning she is sleeping late.
Love and the deed of it take many forms for her
and at night the men whistle
when ever she goes into the dark streets
when the old church bell rings off the late evening
and her bitter work does begin
and sometimes she gets a chance
to eat out like a beautiful woman can
but mostly she acts out her age-old trade,
are smiling, impudently forward and sometimes scared
while she longs for better days and another life.
[Reference: “Katrina” by I.D. du Plessis.]
Gert Strydom, 10 july 2014
Where trees stand in the winter night as skeletons
out of the clouds of fog the silver-white moon rises
and in the distance a dog is barking,
when other sounds come that no man can understand,
lightning-bolts flash down without end
and as a mere man
I see the omnipotence out of the hand of God
when the windows rattle as if something wants to come in
and I am astounded by the great scene
when the first drops begin to fall
and rain pours down over the dry earth.
Gert Strydom, 10 july 2014
Sometimes I yearn for you to be near
and I want to find a time, maybe turn the years back
to draw you into my arms,
to look at you with the knowledge
that you are mine
and I wonder about the thoughts
that constantly goes through your mind,
about the things that make you both sad and glad
and somewhere in the distance a star is beckoning
as if it’s a silent guiding light in the darkness of the night
Scott Mitchell, 9 july 2014
Any instance my eyes turn away from you
don't conceive I've lost my affection
I'm solely focused on things to come
as we stare in the same direction
Anytime I don't say how my love is
don't allow your heartbeat to skip
Some things are too grand to reveal
as profound words escape my lips
Nothing voices louder than our silence
vacant phrases, yet souls defined
Nothing could inspire my heart to quake more
than your eyes looking up into mine
Every time we're burdened with distance
I embrace my pain of your presence missing
Affirmation I've finally found the one
no reluctance for our hearts giving
I want every tomorrow holding you
don't ask what tomorrow may hold
We can grey and our bodies wither
but "we" forever will never get old
Scott Mitchell
Gert Strydom, 9 july 2014
If you think of me sadly when we part,
when there is loneliness in the heart
then remember how very happy
our days together had been.
Remember me fondly
as your own darling and counterpart,
how my face looked
when a smile would start
and on a bright sunny day
I will return
and heartache and loss
at times is only a condition of the mind
and on another day you will find
the sky to be bright and blue
when I come back to you
and now while you still do care
we have many happy moments to share
and everything that we say and do
stick to our souls like the strongest glue.
Gert Strydom, 9 july 2014
God in His great grace
has made each and every season
with its own purpose and place
and I wonder in what season did life
with its intricacies begin,
was it in the hot summer sun
or during the winter chill?
Gert Strydom, 9 july 2014
A snow-white dove
flies into the room’s window
and I remember how it had been,
how the crowd listened to the voice of God
at the stream where John was baptising,
how that dove descended,
the disciples stumbling around somewhat confused,
the Son of God who somewhat naked
stretched out His hands above His head to His Father,
the peace that suddenly came to the hearts of everyone,
the onlookers that did cover their eyes to the bright light
and how everybody looked and stared somewhat astonished at Him
and still I do wonder why God himself
came to perish for everyone on this planet?
Gert Strydom, 9 july 2014
I taste you as if you are on my lips
while slowly in my arms you do unwind,
it’s as if I can touch you with fingertips
but its only memories in my mind.
As no longer you are here, can be mine
and life is now different from before,
even if our feelings still do combine,
you I cannot find, anymore explore,
destiny, death had slammed shut that door.
Satish Verma, 9 july 2014
After dousing the bride to a nice flame,
in between the howls
there were songs
On mud path the hoofprints
came out prominently. On bullock carts
they had come for a sit in,
to resist, rebel or kill.
All day the heat, dust & winds
blurred the vision.
Hills between us
to feed the hate.
It is nothing like the good old earth.
The nascent bleed.
Time of non-movement.
Shadows of snow-peaks.
Satish Verma
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