Gert Strydom, 16 september 2014
(after William Blake)
I walk the street, impoverished people
do catch my eye,
marks of hardship and woe are on their faces,
whores wander by,
(some once decent women forced to sin),
a baby’s cry
sounds very helpless and I have pity,
there is some great heartache that I see.
[Reference: “London” by William Blake.]
Gert Strydom, 15 september 2014
I came to you
and you were in every thought,
were right next to me through all of the dark nights,
did walk with me when the first roses started flowering.
I came to you
with everything that I am
and there was something more than just knowledge
when I could hide no opinion or desire.
I came to you
and you were loving and full of hope
when you started to walk through my life and dreams
and still are here in my first days of old age.
I came to you
and did trust you,
did cling to you like a drowning person
and although the last days of my life is turning over
I do know how deep your love is.
Gert Strydom, 15 september 2014
The days that are past
are like leaves in the wind
that is blown away
never again to be found
and the events, feelings
and time that is past
circle out like ripples
that goes wider on the summer sea
and that which stays unsaid
has got a expectation
that someone will understand.
Gert Strydom, 12 september 2014
I remember a home that smelled somewhat
of sandalwood,
a happy place where each longing, each wish,
was understood,
where the family kinship made you feel
welcome and good
but destiny makes life a fading thing,
like a flower that withers after spring.
Gert Strydom, 12 september 2014
(in answer to Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
The wish to live on, to still love, to know
beyond the grave
is probably in each mere mortal soul
and we act brave
in the face of daily devastation
at times do rave
at the meaninglessness of mortal life,
find withering in all that we do strive,
yet each lovely thing points straight up to God,
to some existence
that was once perfect, beyond all reproach,
and we do sense
that once we were much greater still than the
incompetence
to which we are bound and that everything
still yearns for company with a supreme being.
[Reference: “In Memoriam A.H.H.” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.]
Gert Strydom, 11 september 2014
At times we are free from pain and sorrow,
when bright sunlight
brings a new tomorrow with hope and joy,
when each long night
sparkles with some romantic attractions,
where we both might
live lives together to the utter brim,
might truly love in a world that is grim.
Gert Strydom, 11 september 2014
Flickering the flame of a candle burns
drawing lines when you awake,
there are patterns and dark forms
that it makes on the walls,
your eyes gleam,
there is suddenly a smile that touches me,
you are supple and soft against me
and forever I could lie like this without any movement.
Gert Strydom, 10 september 2014
At night something is jogging between the houses
that is neither animal nor man
and the face of it is distorted
full of hatred with a unearthly meaning,
with eyes gleaming bloody red
that makes people freeze from fear
when he climbs through a window,
comes nearer, grabs you with mighty arms
and everywhere the dogs of the neighbourhood are barking,
howl and cry in great fear
as the figure is something more terrifying than from the grave
and everything that comes across it wants to flee and hide from it
as where it comes blood does flow
before the first glowing of the morning.
Gert Strydom, 10 september 2014
I am really blessed by her presence,
my truest love
brings the most intense feelings that nothing
can quench, remove,
she has been prepared, designed for me
by God above
and while we are constantly together
she is dear and I cannot forget her.
Gert Strydom, 9 september 2014
There is a kind of loneliness, brokenness
deep in your eyes
a searching to a deeper meaning
and deeply moved
I wanted to bring something holy and honourable to you,
my inability
had me tattling when did come near
and with your great beauty I was astonished.
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