Gert Strydom, 20 march 2014
When to me you did come
of all my wishes this was the sum
and I wished for something more than just care,
wanted us both in love’s magic to partake
and your dear presence there was only for my sake
but in your presence I felt speechless and dumb
when to me you did come.
You did love me
with a woman’s sweet loyalty
but at the time I loved you more
and between us was a brilliant flame
a kind of feeling that love had much more in store
but at the time I did not know your name
and how unlikely it seemed to be
that you did love me.
Gert Strydom, 19 march 2014
The cobalt, emerald and sapphire of the Southern sea
could turn moments in a day into eternity
as if no other day like this could ever be
when I loved you and you loved me
and on that beach we found tranquillity
while both the dogs were barking and running free.
The busy city laid shining in the distance far away
and we loved each other without a single word to say
while the breakers crashed on rocks and rolled out in the bay
and together on that sunny beach we did laugh, kiss and play
on a February God blessed radian day
and it felt if we would love each other come what may.
The wind swept in from the sea, died down and swept in again
and on that open day suddenly it started to rain
while glittering in the distance was the blue-green main
and in our hearts was joy and we did know no pain
as we looked in wonder at the hues that did the Pacific stain
and on that day the time did fly
when almost in a single moment the day passed us by
but at eight in the evening the sun was still high
burning with intensity in that Cape Town sky
and you were in love and so was I.
It was the best of days where we picnicked on the shore
and a day like this had not come before
when it felt as if that day could last forever more,
while I loved you true and you did me adore
and together the beach and each other we did explore.
Gert Strydom, 18 march 2014
I just want to for the enjoyment of it
prepare a meal for you
and serve it with candlelight and a bottle of red wine,
and I want to find you soft warm lips,
take you later by the hand
and lead you away to our bed
when the moon hangs enchanting in the heaven
and the night spreads her billions of stars,
when time comes to a halt for the both of us.
Gert Strydom, 17 march 2014
I heard the thunder of the guns resound,
saw rockets taking red tails into the sky,
with passing battle-tanks felt the trembling ground
and over and away fighter jets did fly.
To some it was the judgement-day
and I a mere man was lost
when I saw thousands decimated lay
and wondered about war and its cost
while those sights, smells and sounds
remains with me still
and the explosions of shells, the thudding of rounds,
brings back the deadly chill
of when to escape burial in the ground
mere boys were forced to kill
and this brings to me
the reckless indifference of life in the previous century
where no man was really completely free
from a myriad of obligations
and responsibility.
Gert Strydom, 14 march 2014
At times she says that she does love me
but my innermost feelings to her is unknown.
Sometimes she is angry, chilly or acts with sincerity
and it feels as if on the big old earth I am alone.
At times my words she does not notice, or when I pass by,
or even the small things that I in love do
and I wonder if another has caught her eye
when her words and actions hurts me through
and daily I am more and more lost while the world goes on,
whilst at times rain pours down, or brightly the sun does shine
and all hope and what is left of life seems gone
while she lives in her own world and I in mine
and she acts as if she knows me barely,
as if continually from me she wants to be free.
Gert Strydom, 13 march 2014
“Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Cain answered the omnipotent Lord God
as if a brotherly relationship did not go much deeper
and this answer seems odd
as if he did not have his brother’s blood on his hands
as if his brother had travelled away to distant lands
and I wonder where our own responsibility do begin
or do we choose to live a life of sin
to be political correct
and just to fit in,
when our country is turned into chaos
and people try to survive at any cost
while daily we do meet a sister or brother
from another father and mother,
see our own people begging on the street
and we have no concern for each other,
drive the newest most expensive luxury cars
gather with others in fortress houses and bars
while the new kind of racism know as affirmative action
destroys lives, do reserve jobs by the colour of skin
and we do build our lives around ourselves as a reaction
while we do believe that we can survive and win
and somewhere the unlucky ones are retrenched, loose their lives
cars, property and wives,
and all kind of hope suddenly to them is gone
while for all others life goes on
as if no corruption, crime and suppression does occur
and people’s hearts become rock solid like stone
while the Redistribution and development programs
is catching speed and so does greed,
(and the revenge of the dark people) in lives are like epigrams
while some people are in real need
and kill themselves while they are unwilling to beg for salvation
while others beg at street corners as if it’s their real occupation
and others like Abraham trust daily on God to provide,
to be a friend, a shelter and a true guide.
Gert Strydom, 12 march 2014
Far too quickly time did catch up with him
and with an aged body he stands bended
with a distant gaze in his bright blue eyes.
Out of a cloud a bright ray comes
when the last shadows of the grey afternoon linger
and he thinks about his own inability,
about a life that has been lived and suddenly he is sad
but for his thoughts there is no language.
For a moment a thunder flash is caught upon his retina,
a drop runs down his cheek
when he thinks about his own transience
and in him the great longing remains
when a couple in love runs past
and in the distance he hears the clear laughter of a child.
Gert Strydom, 11 march 2014
I live for her and help her constantly in many ways
and unreckoned passes every second of time
as if there is only pain coming to all my days
and as if to nothing there is reason and rhyme
while right through each day and each night
I try to make her happy
but my world remains in darkness with no light
and she acts as if she does not even know me,
as if the end of our time together is near,
as if the coming chilly winter will be endless
while I do anything that I can to hold her dear
as if simple words and actions could heal this
while I see no action, word or sign
that she wants to remain mine.
© Gert Strydom
Gert Strydom, 11 march 2014
I live for her and help her constantly in many ways
and unreckoned passes every second of time
as if there is only pain coming to all my days
and as if to nothing there is reason and rhyme
while right through each day and each night
I try to make her happy
but my world remains in darkness with no light
and she acts as if she does not even know me,
as if the end of our time together is near,
as if the coming chilly winter will be endless
while I do anything that I can to hold her dear
as if simple words and actions could heal this
while I see no action, word or sign
that she wants to remain mine.
© Gert Strydom
Gert Strydom, 10 march 2014
I still want to know that you do love me
even when at times I must ask forgiveness
and when I am weak in the days of old age
I still want to look into your eyes
and know how true love does look.
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