George Krokos, 24 january 2013
There comes a time almost uncertain it is
when all before one is not as it seems.
The trials and temptations overbearing are
somehow resolved just like after our dreams.
Life's always a struggle trying to achieve
one's ideal creation where nothing is real.
Everything has only a relative existence is true
sustained by imagination maintaining its weal.
Knowledge is revealed to all from within
who question sincerely their inner being.
Curious of what the whole show is about
discover the truth of what they're seeing.
Very few are those who realize the truth
and reluctant it seems are they who know
to reveal to them who are yet unready,
without any preparation willing to forego.
Submission and humility in one's ignorance are
really great virtues and required for the path
on which all are destined to reach that glorious state
of infinite wisdom and love as the divine aftermath.
_________________________________________
Valerie Dohren, 23 january 2013
Gladly will my heart surrender
At the closing of the day
When my eyes shall rest in slumber
Chasing sorrows fast away
Then to ‘bide in peace and silence
As the world soft fades from sight
Drifting into realms celestial
At the coming of the night
Yet the dark brings sweet redemption
Bearing thus another day
When the light shall shine within me
So that I am cast away
Floating high above in splendour
Where there is no thought of I
Nothing there will be my captor
As all fear shall pale and die
In the stillness of my being
So to seek the rising sun
With all worldliness transcended
Melding into all as one
Valerie Dohren, 23 january 2013
Captured in the fall of evening
Stilled my soul in sweet recline –
Spanning dark unclouded heavens
There the moon and stars align
Haunted by the night’s sweet music
With a song of sad lament
Soothing then my heart in solace
Filling me with pure content
Then to ‘bide in glow of fireside
Watching dancing shadows there
Nothing but the moment lingers –
Joyful just to sit and stare
O, the dark shall be my haven
So to rest with easeful mind
Fixing yet my eyes upon you
As in splendour so entwined
Night of nights I bow before thee
Come, O come and take my soul
Into realms where I may wander
There your beauty to extol
Quiet now, with calm acceptance
Sorrows borne now fly away
Gently sinking into slumber
Yet to know another day
Into somnolence then drifting
In your grasp my spirit keep
Dreams shall take my thoughts in whispers
Peaceful now – I’m falling deep
Valerie Dohren, 23 january 2013
Butterflies, sweet butterflies
Laughter lighting up their eye
For now they’ve gone to Paradise
Do they dance and do they play
Upon the stars so far away
Whilst watching o’er the ones who pray
And can they see, or are they blind
Lost to love and humankind
The unconstrained and unconfined
Are they dark or are they fair
With dusky eyes or golden hair
Like feathers floating in the air
And do they weep or do they sing
Fly with angels ‘pon the wing
Joyously or suffering
Fore’er to dwell in shining streams
Lost to life and lost in dreams
All lost forever now it seems
Lost in space and lost in time
But not in prose and not in rhyme
For still they dwell in thought sublime
And are they cold or are they warm
Whispering softly through the storm
But quiet now, the born unborn
Round, round and around they go
Backwards, forwards, to and fro
Swinging high and swinging low
Only those who love them know
Valerie Dohren, 23 january 2013
Heaven …
We speak of doves and cherubims
Of angels chanting mystic hymns
With shimm’ring, swirling mists of night
Enshrouding souls in heav’nly flight
Then wait in hope that all shall find
Eternal peace for humankind –
Beyond the stars, this holy place
We think to gaze upon His face
Yet here, in life, my soul is real
Within this heart, to love, to feel
The splendour of man’s richest prize
The gift of life, where here it lies
It’s not beyond, but ‘neath the skies
Reflected in two lovers’ eyes
It lingers in their tender kiss
Within their arms, entwined in bliss
It’s present in each flow’ring rose
In every living thing that grows
Embracing every baby’s birth
It’s not above, it’s here on earth
And if you look, you’ll see it clear
Within the things you hold most dear
Pervading every kindly deed
That satisfies each human need
It’s not a far and distant place
Reserved for those bestowed with grace
Immersed in every single breath
It’s found in life, not after death
And Hell …
The serpent lies in wait, we fear
The pangs of death, e’er drawing near
For those whose lives have not been pure
This place, accursed, they must endure
Set deep within the earth’s sweet light
We speak of hell’s eternal night
Engulfing all possessed of sin
So dark, this evil place within
Yet through this broken heart, I Know
It’s not some place that lurks below
It’s here in life, in every cry
In ever tear, in every lie
It’s found in every human pain
O’er every evil deed to reign
Concealed in all the things we fear
It’s not beneath the earth, but here
You’ll find it in each starving child
Within each living thing defiled
By man’s foul deeds, it lingers on
‘Til every spark of truth is gone
And Satan’s gift sure has a price
The cost is pain and sacrifice
Of love, of joy, of peace divine
In eyes so blind, no more to shine
The devil’s fires don’t burn beneath
The earth, you’ll find no gnashing teeth –
War-torn children will tell you well
Where lash the raging flames of hell
Valerie Dohren, 23 january 2013
"Oh sweet breath of eternal life
Dance ever ‘pon her silent breast
Released from pain and worldly strife
The one I love is laid to rest"
Her flaxen hair, like golden corn
Fell soft about her lifeless face
And round her shoulders to adorn
As limp she lay in death’s embrace
Still young, the bloom of youth today
Her life had barely yet begun
But all too soon to fade away
No more to dance beneath the sun
No more to laugh in sweet delight
Nor skip through pastures, wild and free
Nor hear the nightingales sing bright
In pure and perfect harmony
"I`ll ne’er forget her tender smile
Nor yet her face, so sweet and fair
Her gentle kisses to beguile
I`ll cherish every thought of her"
The teardrops glistened on his cheeks
Like stars plucked from the darkened skies
He held her hand, no more to speak
Then gently kissed her still, cold eyes
Gert Strydom, 23 january 2013
Perfection he was after
but in his paintings,
there was none of it
just the lines of a third rate artist
and the human spirit, the minds
the heart of man
he new better than most
and talked and talked
and when he spoke
he dazzled them
and when the corporal
suddenly outranked every general
as commander of them all
swift action did he take
to conquer the whole of Europe
to send a superior air force,
his battle tanks out in a quick strike
even to venture as far
as the depths of Russia
and he held every single Jewish person
accountable for all errors of the past,
killing most of them
including men, women, children and babies
thinking that he could build a empire
that could last and last
and the poetry he invented
was brute force, by the barrel of a gun
and any manner of death and then some
but as with all tyrants
his end did come
and with his own hand
he killed his dog, his wife and took his own life.
Gert Strydom, 23 january 2013
During the years that I have lived
in South Africa
I have witnessed heroes and monsters
among both white and black men
I have seen men of integrity and spirit,
I have seen robbers and liars,
have witnessed the acts
of brutal selfish politicians,
have done my duty to my country
beyond the call of patriotism,
have served in the military when called upon,
have paid my taxes when due,
and like most other South African men
have been a mortal
caught up in turbulent times,
in a havoc of events
that threatened to destroy society,
that stripped away the way to earn a living
and although most people do not realise it
our country is on the brink of devestation,
with robberies, torture, killings and rape
going totally out of control,
with the police being either helpless,
or totally inadequate, not able to do their duty.
Gert Strydom, 23 january 2013
On this amazing continent,
that has been ablaze
with wars and killings
since man have dwelt here,
where some perish of hunger
and others live like kings,
I have seen things that are exciting,
have experience the most terrible things
but I cannot extinguish
the sound of Africa beating in my heart
nor my longing to be a part of my people,
the longing for my country that is part of me
and every single morning embraces me
with new life, with fresh air to breathe
and even under oppression I still remain free.
louis gander, 23 january 2013
You follow me and haunt me
in terrorizing ways.
Your silence keeps me guessing here
in my most frightened gaze.
Sometimes you stalk me from my left -
and sometimes from my right.
Sometimes you're right in front of me -
or just beyond my sight.
Sometimes taller, you appear,
intimidatingly -
and every day I see you here,
I simply want to flee.
To add some distance, I sometimes
accelerate my pace.
Yet matters not, my quickened step,
I can't increase the space.
You march 'lock-step' along with me
and blatantly impede -
my privacy and liberties
exacting my same speed.
I get enraged and shake my fists -
but you make your fists too.
Once and for all, I'd be so glad
to rid myself of you.
You hang around me mimicking!
I plead with you - just GO!!
I find myself at my wit's end
escaping my own shadow.
Oh yes, just like our shadows,
temptation follows us -
stalking us where e'er we go.
That's why we need Jesus.
©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/
-------
Poetry
Prose
Photography
Graphics
Video poems
Postcards
Diary
Books
Handmade
