Gert Strydom, 9 october 2013
(after Gert Vlok Nel)
On a campus in Summerset West you did look at me
and to me you seemed more beautiful than any other girl
with the sun shining out of your eyes
and I brought you roses, about a thousand times,
tried to write poems to you
and you were in my blood, my head and body.
I did later hear
that you had lost your head on a doctor
with a child coming from that love
and stupidly I thought maybe we could start all over.
but things changed and we did separate
and forever you wanted me out of your life
until a day where your world did fall apart,
when your new husband thought that you were mad
when you did drink some pills
and on the telephone you did sound very sad.
I did later hear
that you had lost your head on a doctor
with a child coming from that love
and stupidly I thought maybe we could start all over.
You told me that you were never untrue,
your glance did fit with you beautiful words,
your body was covered by a flowery sun-dress
and at Sun City it was only you and me
and I remembered the days in the apartment in Bellville
how we did cling shivering to each other in the bedroom.
I did later hear
that you had lost your head on a doctor
with a child coming from that love
and stupidly I thought maybe we could start all over.
But on that day we did nothing
and we did not even kiss each other
and when you did smile my heart did go wild
but in your life there were more than just the two of us
and still my heart was broken.
I did later hear
that you had lost your head on a doctor
with a child coming from that love
and stupidly I thought maybe we could start all over
but with the things of women I was rather silly.
[Reference; “Beautiful in Beaufort-Wes” by Gert Vlok Nel.]
Gert Strydom, 8 october 2013
Outside a wild, warm west wind is blowing
but in the depths of your arms I did find rest.
Gert Strydom, 8 october 2013
Sometimes just for a moment your eyes do catch mine
and I am lost in their depths.
Sometimes I see small bird tracks
from the times that you do laugh
and sometimes you do smile brightly
like the summer sun.
Sometimes your eyes are turbid
as if the season of winter
does continue forever sadly,
as if the night will never again past
and sometimes your eyes are full of hope
like a new spring that does arrive
and you do change me
to also notice the bright light
in everything that has been, that is
and that has still got to happen.
Gert Strydom, 7 october 2013
Weavers fly to and thro
going over the river
with there nests hanging
in the willow trees
where the leaves becomes alive
in the slight breeze
and with silver crystal spray
an African red-knobbed coot
flies up screaming from the riverbed
disturbed by my squelching tread
and crowned plovers are more agitated
while I walked along the riverbank
As if I am placing my feet on holy ground.
Gert Strydom, 7 october 2013
(after Jan F. E, Cilliers)
Long ago the Spirit of God glided over me
when God created everything of which I do exist
and at that time everything was perfect,
my fields and flowers were still untouched
but the snake with its evil
did disguise itself in a tree
and everything was wonderful and good
until man came to sin, pain and death.
I did experience the big flood
when water fell forty days from heaven
and did stretch right over me, when kind of life was killed,
I did hear the thunder roaring ominous,
felt the crust of the earth break and tear at places
when the earth did divide into different continents,
did once more see and feel the sun
with butterflies, bees, birds and animals playing upon me
but now I do sleep while seasons come and go
and I lay waiting in my eternal rest
for God to come again over this earth
on His big re-creation day
and the blood of man and animals does flow
while this old world’s time is running out
but continually I am astounded by the day breaking
by flowers, plants, trees and animals
and it’s as if each day comes with new hope.
On my bosom the grass grows luxuriant
where wild game graze peacefully
and here and there a leopard sneaks around
but without fear a herd of giraffes walk past
until a male lion roars in the distance
and then a dust cloud rises
when all kinds of animals go rigid
and gallop away in fear into all directions.
When in the late afternoon the sun hangs lower
Long shadows are thrown by the acacia trees
when a tranquillity and silence lingers
and birds fly up and down and twitter without fear
and baboons gather together in big groups,
while meercats hop up and down in the long grass,
when springbucks triple around playfully
and a crocodile splash into the water.
[Reference: “Die vlakte” (The Plain) by Jan F. E, Cilliers.]
Gert Strydom, 4 october 2013
Some mornings I hear doves coming down fluttering outside
and its as if long moments are lingering between us,
it’s as if sleep is stretching out
and I am lost in each breath and the contours of your body.
Gert Strydom, 4 october 2013
Some mornings I hear doves coming down fluttering outside
and its as if long moments are lingering between us,
it’s as if sleep is stretching out
and I am lost in each breath and the contours of your body.
Gert Strydom, 3 october 2013
In spring I long
for the autumn’s stretched out afternoons
when leaves fall and fall
almost secretive to the earth.
In summer there are times
when I long for the days of winter rest
and in autumn I do remember the spring
which stretches her flowers out wide
and I really want to smell her fragrances
but I can only come to the conclusion
that life does constantly run into a season
and that a person has got to experience
all of the different seasons and times
with someone that you do love.
Gert Strydom, 3 october 2013
In spring I long
for the autumn’s stretched out afternoons
when leaves fall and fall
almost secretive to the earth.
In summer there are times
when I long for the days of winter rest
and in autumn I do remember the spring
which stretches her flowers out wide
and I really want to smell her fragrances
but I can only come to the conclusion
that life does constantly run into a season
and that a person has got to experience
all of the different seasons and times
with someone that you do love.
Gert Strydom, 3 october 2013
When the spring rain pours down
it seems as if the road does exude
a glorious cloud
with the fragrance of the rain being everywhere
and the fragrance of new life
that comes from the ground
when new sprouts do appear
and everything about me is green.
At this time birds rejoice
while they catch insects twittering
when a rainbow hangs colourful against the heaven
and God stretches out His great mercy over His earth,
does cover the veldt with green grass and flowers
and also with His love.
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