Gert Strydom, 27 september 2012
that lingers at the mirror image of the window
is swept away
when every insect catches the eye of a butcher bird
and I am caught in the scene
where it pierces the insect on the barbed wire,
is swept away
where the insect looses its life
and the bird is preparing for its next victim
where it pierces the insect on the barbed wire
and I see the bird spreading its black wing
as it twitters on the barbed wire and slaps its wings
and the bird is preparing for its next victim
while each insect it catches so smartly
where it is set on each movement,
as it twitters on the barbed wire and slaps its wings
and the bird becomes a deadly thing
that lingers at the mirror image of the window
where it is set on each movement,
when every insect catches the eye of a butcher bird.
Gert Strydom, 27 september 2012
In the early morning
dew covers every piece of grass and flower
and I see green sprouts in the soft ground
that appears after the first rain,
some grow luxuriant and others are slender and fine.
Some dew covers every piece of grass and flower,
and new buds appear
on long green stems,
some grow luxuriant and others are slender and fine.
in an aromatic existence.
At dark red roses and pink hollyhocks
on long green stems,
butterflies appear new from there metamorphoses
while the sun spreads its yellow-golden rays,
at dark red roses and pink hollyhocks
bees and butterflies fly to and thro
in the early morning
while the sun spreads its yellow-golden rays
and I see green sprouts in the soft ground.
Satish Verma, 27 september 2012
A green smoke was rising
to ferret out
the elusive pain
without body.
I went in search of
fidgety words
to patch up the conflicts
of flesh.
Bold as Passiflora,
Crucifixion was complete.
Today a gift of obeyance
will arrive.
It was a fake.
The eyes on the hump.
Camel has to cross
a steep desert.
Satish Verma
Gert Strydom, 26 september 2012
When in summer
stormy clouds gather
and chains of blue-white thunder
comes flaming down, sneaks nearer and neared
Impundulu is flying,
souring high into the air
with its blazing eyes looking everywhere
and something has disturbed its resting place,
in the giant tamboti tree
that roots in the cliffs,
into the very heart of the earth,
that branches into the clouds,
the place of the upper waters
and when the rain starts pouring
as if without end, the medicine man,
the witchdoctor, the Inyanga
puts secret herbs, magic spices
coming from the dark cliffs
in a cooking pot
that he applies to every doorpost
of the native village
believing that it has the ability
to keep the bird of thunder away
while it’s exploding voice is drawing closer,
small bolts frizzles, fire erupts where it gazes
and the power of its claws and beak
shatters even the hardest rocks
and in the village huts the children
are scared to even breathe,
their mothers and fathers pray
to the Almighty God,
to Unkulunkulu, the Big-Big One
to keep the bird of thunder away.
[Reference: “Impundulu” by A.G. Visser]
Gert Strydom, 26 september 2012
At times a nightingale or swallow
visited me
singing sweetly
and with all the reckoning
that I did posses,
I tried to catch the words of it
and sorrowful was that gentle ode
telling about lovely Philomel
who did disappear
and how once she was young and beautiful,
so full of life, until her brother in law Tereus,
did his dirty deed
and then silenced her with a knife
and in the visiting bird there was something,
something lovely and sweet
while at times it pecked insects at my feet
as if Philomel, was coming back to life in it.
[Reference: “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” by Sir Walter Raleigh.]
Gert Strydom, 26 september 2012
The whole yard becomes full, becomes full of him,
without anyone noticing
while the shadows are drawing nearer
is in the bright day he already approaches full of danger,
when darkness comes to the earth
without anyone noticing
he unexpectedly enters a house,
and someone screams agitated
when darkness comes to the earth
and he comes and goes as he wants to
with eyes gleaming red and bloodthirsty
and someone screams agitated
where he enters the bed of an innocent girl,
when he sets out to kill
with eyes gleaming red and bloodthirsty
and still come and go unseen among people.
The whole yard becomes full, becomes full of him,
when he sets out to kill
while the shadows are drawing nearer.
Satish Verma, 26 september 2012
Wading
in your memories.
Through
an orange smoke.
Against
a mirror,
a lake
shrinks.
Days are smaller now
licking
the night
I will count the candles
Of your birthday.
A haunted landscape
scoops a wedding
of a flame with a gale
Satish Verma
Kahlia Mazacalletti, 25 september 2012
You spew your vengence at me; to me
Like a wild asp, winding around the wicked vine
Did I not give you life
And bring breath to your ticker tape world
I see bits and pieces of your father seething out of your mouth.
SO angry; SO foul
You are so sad and you make me your victim
So skilled at making me your mark
I am your craft, your rendition of pain
Wind down the road to nowhere
We all have our secrets, but yours are not sweet, they kill
Like your fathers did; You called me a whore, the ultimate streetwalker, a dollar and a dime
You stab me like a double edged sword
You were a baby once, I touched your cheek to mine
Now I feel the singe, Do you hate me, do you wish me dead
I feel the coldness in your voice
I surmise your intentions
I lie down and surrender
Goldie Lopez, 25 september 2012
Old yesterdays and the newness of today
Harbors the rekindled love we knew
Fragile tender lover, the calling of our hearts collide
Breathing deeply into one another
Though we’ve forgotten why we made amends
Looking back into our existence where the passing of time remains
How did we find each other, yet the cycle remains unchanged?
The intoxicating energy of loves first bliss
Now seems weathered, distant and missed
A man of many faces, changing with the winds that blow
Between your sheets words bleed…
attacking my wounds persistently
Breathtaking you’ve had me… Just by the stare you gave
no I can’t pretend, I wont surrender
for you’re my defeat and I the avenger
So heartless lover, why do you keep your love from me
you were like no other,
and the meaning of the stand-still eludes me
in the moment of cunning twisted words, I uncovered
Esoteric motives... built the very essence of our walls
A powerful elixir of passionate love and lust
The beauty of what we shared now is dust
Remnants remain, though eclipsed it seems
Wanting more… than what is seen
How fickle situations can be
Surround me lover, within your arms I seek
A tender cover of compassionate murder of what used to be
Hearing nothing more, than the faint rhythmic sound of your heart beat.
We were once together
But now…. were barely existent
Goldie Lopez, 25 september 2012
The kids see the pain
Of broken hearted shame
Can’t handle this situation
Whose the one to blame?
Your bleeding from the blade
In which you hold
Trying to keep love alive
Is what you told…
Without letting go
Holding to tight
Holding to tight
Something isn’t right…
So vulnerable
We all see you’re hurting
With expressions masked by a smile
Living with this deception
Feeling unsafe when you’re around
We’ve made history
With plenty of love and good laughs
We've battled disappointments,
And saw happiness flow,
while failure crippled the harmony we once sowed
So a blade you hold within your hand
Your kids see you, but don’t understand
You’re a man!
A father…
A friend…
My confidant
So your throat you want to cut
Suicide is the final… front.
Not caring what your family has to say…
Were all affected the same way
Giving up, watch it go away
The kids see you, but don’t understand
They just don’t understand…
That their daddy is only… A man!
Poetry
Prose
Photography
Graphics
Video poems
Postcards
Diary
Books
Handmade
