Poetry

(after Toon van den Heever)
 
In the summer sun the great colossus rises
where paltry yet gigantic he still stands
with his eyes looking northwards
and his gaze sweeps right through veldt and bush.
 
Still he struggles on without being swayed
and his whole being is fierce and always true
as if nothing can stop that keen eyes
and his gaze sweeps right through veldt and bush
 
to find liberty whatever it does cost,
beyond him lies death that could not break a people,
it’s the hope of a free existence that is looking
and his gaze sweeps right through veldt and bush.
 
In the summer sun the great colossus rises
and his gaze sweeps right through veldt and bush.
 
[Reference:  “Die beeld van oom Paul” (The statutue of uncle Paul) by Toon van den Heever.  Poet’s note:  The ANC Youth league is trying to remove this very statue.]