Gert Strydom, 9 july 2013
The hunger in my heart tonight leaps
like a panther,
while I miss you more than I can tell,
there is no other
that can even quench this empty longing,
just together
life, the world seems functional, good and great
and you remain my life-long love and mate.
Gert Strydom, 9 july 2013
Tonight the silence caries its soft message
between us both
the moon is distant looking white and old,
the pitch black cloth
of many ages tells the stories of love,
we have sworn troth
to each other and you are know to me
as if this night long has been meant to be.
Gert Strydom, 8 july 2013
(after Robert Browning)
I
Notice the fairy hanging on the wall
where she mischievously smiles as if she is alive.
That painting was painted for me by my wife
and although it’s somewhat small
it’s a masterpiece if ever I have seen one
and there is something in her glance
as if her eyes is radiant like the sun
but still it’s difficult to contemplate her countenance
but strangers like you notice her breast
and the light and shadow in the paint
or remark on the royal colour of her dress
but still lingering is something faint
as if there is an odour in the air,
as if she is right here.
II
In a week for business you are right back
and where the fairy was is just a blank spot
and on the wall to you something does lack
“but it was such a lovely thing was it not?”
“My wife ripped it apart,
said that there was evil to it
as she burned it bit by tiny bit”
“But it was such great art,”
you do protest
and I wonder what evil it did posses
in the eyes of my dearest.
[Reference: “My last duchess” by Robert Browning.]
Gert Strydom, 8 july 2013
I stopped to look at
a painting in a shop
and in a chair a fat lady sat
and there were several interesting things
to look at,
birds with flapping wings on swings,
anything that people would peddle
and there were several interesting things
and whatever I looked at the woman would meddle
talking about
anything that people would peddle
and I walked right out
without even seeing the painting,
and I had stopped
without even seeing the painting,
a painting in a shop.
Gert Strydom, 8 july 2013
The same face is painted
on all the canvases,
and whether she looks up, down
or straight at you
loveliness is mirrored
in her eyes, her face
and slender body
and she could be anyone
as she gives a own meaning
to everyone that watches her
and although similarity
to a real person
is portrayed in every way,
she remains
reflected as the painter
viewed her.
Gert Strydom, 5 july 2013
When I loose my job, my possessions and wife
FW is charmed by his new spouse,
while my whole country is given away
and what a big friend I have got in FW.
When affirmative action brings me to disaster
the government treats me as if I deserve it,
as if this country does not care for its own children
and what a big friend I have got in FW.
The borders are now open for the whole of Africa
while millions of people just walk in for citizenship;
his smile is gone, but he is never embarrassed
and what a big friend I have got in FW.
My years forced into the army is forgotten
and with his pension he does not worry about a day;
even military victories is now wiped from the table
and what a big friend I have got in FW.
I am now totally free from my possessions,
free from two cars and do not have to drive again;
in secret dark plans are made
and what a big friend I have got in FW.
I see that age is now taking its toll on him,
from the end of life nobody can escape;
to hell my best wishes will be with him
and what a big friend I have got in FW.
Gert Strydom, 5 july 2013
It’s strange that some foreign soldiers
seems too illiterate
uncommon with signs,
even with the alphabet
in places which they occupy and conquer
to comprehend
the universal phallic finger that is raised
and think that candy bars
and money will buy goodwill
and still the foreign secret service meddles
into the affairs of other countries
and one message is not understood:
to return to the motherland,
whose enemies
are treated without dignity,
whose enemies are abducted
from foreign countries,
(where the citizens of that countries
who want to interfere
with these criminal acts
are threatened by their very lives
with machineguns being pointed at them),
where those abducted
are thrown without trial or any avail
into huge secret jails
and the star speckled banner flaps
while the lamb roars
and belches fire like the dragon
that she in reality is.
[Reference: The abduction in the middle of the night of a Indian speaking person, in the town of Esctourt (Kwazulu-Natal province, South Africa) by members of a foreign secret service who drove two black four by four pickup-trucks without number plates, pointed submachine guns at South African citizens and threatened their lives when they wanted to interfere to help their neighbour, hereafter these foreign intelligence officials transported the abducted person to a waiting foreign military aircraft at Waterkloof military airfield in Pretoria (Gauteng Province, South Africa). (As showed on the MNET / DSTV in depth news program: Carte Blanche before the South African government stopped any further news items on this indecent. As witnessed by some people living in the town of Estcourt, Kwazulu-Natal province, South Africa.)]
Gert Strydom, 4 july 2013
My stupid fingers write words to you
as you do notice me while my whole world falls apart,
as there are something bright in your eyes
in which I find a great familiarity
that like a ray of sun throws light upon my life
and at times your smile wants to enchant me
when I catch your eye
as if a life-time is already between us
and then the whole world suddenly looks different
as if a big adventure lies before us.
Gert Strydom, 4 july 2013
(after Andrew Marvell)
Far too easily she captivates
with sheer beauty,
I could resist her if she was but fair,
in harmony
her great voice in song ensnares my mind,
tranquillity
is in each word and feeling at her sight,
like a slave I follow her day and night.
[Reference: “The Fair Singer” by Andrew Marvell.]
Gert Strydom, 4 july 2013
This morning like every other one
you touch here and there in your preparations
and outside a myriad of sparrows fly past
when you put on the light and sleepy I open my eyes.
After a hot bath you comb your long hair
and you blush your cheeks and your lips get a bit of red
and in your bath water the tiredness of my body disappears
and to me even without makeup you are lovely.
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