Gert Strydom

Gert Strydom Poems

While the night stretch black over me
and in the dark sky I see countless lights
burning high,
I thank the God that made me free
...

There sometimes is really bad kind of dreams
which you want to avoid, to be waking,
when in your ears you hear your own screams,
while your body, mind and soul is aching
...

Once I loved a girl,
who left me
for another man
and that deceit
...

Satellite observe
mist cloud unexpectedly
reactor flaming.
...

Angel of the morning light,
the sun is up
and the sun is bright
and still I see you sleep
...

Each one of us is unique
and no person
is really the same,
but we copy others
...

I

A sailor on a yacht
upon the wide ocean
...

a Distressful day finds me
and at work
the air conditioner is on
and I am catching flue
...

At times love has visited me
and left, left me
and has gone away.
It has gone to different shores,
...

Water is my favourite drink,
At times the best thing to quench a thirst
That comes to me suddenly,
Even though it's abundantly available
...

On 17 June 2022 Mikhail Muzintsev,
head of the National Defence Control
Centre of the Russian Federation said:
'since the invasion 307423 children
...

(after Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

I love you with feelings that are true and right,
as our relationship has come with Godly grace,
I do love you through every day and night,
...

I dreamed about a magical garden
where an assortment of flowers grows
with the most beautiful colours and hues,
delicate leaves and shapes
...

I read the entry line above your poem
and know that true soldiers live on
sometimes as legends of a place and time,
...

While the light of day does cease,
still outside many trees are blossoming
in the serene beauty of this early spring
but nature at this twilight has some peace
...

(for Annelize)

I think you are lovely, extremely hot,
but do not want to talk about the fire
...

'It will come about
at that time that I will make
Jerusalem a heavy weight;
so everyone who burdens
...

How long ago has it been, since the day
that you wore a red dress
outside that glass citadel
where the hopes and dreams of nations
...

In a chilling world
where man is nothing more
than a mere animal
it may be true
...

I hear the call of the cuckoo
and in all of this I long for and miss you,
the afternoon's rain comes with thunder,
there are butterflies that leave me speechless
...

Gert Strydom Biography

Gert Strydom was born in 1964 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He matriculated at Estcourt High School after which he obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (B.B.A.) at Andrews University (Berrien Springs, Michigan, U.S.A.) and apart from being a poet and writer he is an accountant by profession. His predilection for poetry was stimulated by his late father who read Afrikaans poetry aloud at times, as part of his postgraduate studies at the University of South Africa. While living in Pretoria he attended the poetry writing school at the House of Afrikaans Poetry under mentorship of Prof. Ian Raper, where the other poets especially Ian Raper, Rosa Smit, Mandi Engelbrecht, André (Francois) Viljoen, Luchie Möller, Karlien van der Merwe had a great influence on the sharpening of his abilities. Gert Strydom was called up for compulsory national service in the South African defence force (SADF) for a period of two years during the time of the South African border / bush war and while following his profession was called up for several compulsory camps for several months as a member of the South African Citizen’s force and did partake in the National Colours Parade and in exercise Excalibur. Some of his Afrikaans poetry is displayed on the Woes web page at: http: //www.woes.co.za/bydraers/besonderhede/gert-strydom Some of his English poetry is displayed at: http: //www.poemhunter.com/gert-strydom http: //www.poetfreak.com/poet/GertStrydom http: //www.mabooki.com/authors/157_Gert_Strydom.htm PRIVACY NOTICE: Warning - any person and / or institution and / or Agent and / or Agency of any governmental structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring / using this website or any of its associated websites, you do NOT have my permission to utilize any of my profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to my poetry, messages, comments, photos, and/or the comments made about my photos or any other " picture" art posted on my profile. You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents herein. The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee, agent, student or any personnel under your direction or control. The contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law. UCC 1-103 1-308 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WITHOUT PREJUDICE © Copyright: Gert Strydom for all poems and photographs displayed on these web pages. (Under South African law copyright exists for forty years from the date of publication.) T PREJUDICE)

The Best Poem Of Gert Strydom

Invictus (A Reply To William Ernest Henley)

While the night stretch black over me
and in the dark sky I see countless lights
burning high,
I thank the God that made me free
to choose which light to follow as a guide.

In dark circumstance and whatever fate brings,
destiny and chance do not conquer
and I still rise wiser
to life and its things

and my will remains free
to decide where my words
and actions belong
whether they are right or wrong
and to no human I bend a knee
and in all things I only answer to Him
who Captain’s me.

[References: Invictus by William Ernest Henley and The Soul’s Captain by Orson F. Whitney.]

Gert Strydom Comments

Dickson Mseti 26 April 2010

POETS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE LIKE SOLDIERS IN WAR.THEY RESCUE EACH OTHER, HELP EACH OTHER AND DIE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.THANK YOU FOR BEING A POET.

8 4 Reply
john (called jack) wren 11 October 2021

Hi, As a great admirer of England's greatest nature poet, I love this tribute. a brilliant piece of work

0 0 Reply
Ivan Kovacs 21 June 2019

I've just completed an English translation of Elisabeth Eybers' poem " Circe" of which Gert Strydom did such a good free translation, and would like to share my own version which you can read under submissions.

0 0 Reply
Twigs Way 11 December 2015

I am trying to get in touch with Gert Strydom URGENTLY as I wish to include one of his poems (on Carnations) in a book - can anyone please help? Unless I can make contact soon the editor wants to remove it.

4 1 Reply
Kayoko Kan 16 July 2012

Your poems are a balm of gentle love. Thank you

8 8 Reply
Johan Fourie 11 January 2012

Hello Gert... waardering vir jouse versameling dan. Maar soos die kind soldaat wat verwaarloos deur sy regering destyds is, verloen ons dan nie ook ons taal as daar so min van jousewerk in die moedertaal is?

6 6 Reply

Gert Strydom Popularity

Gert Strydom Popularity

Close
Error Success