Gert Strydom Poems

When grandfather Noah came out of the ark at mount Ararat
the whole world around him was still wet
and just there he wanted to build a house
but Ham and his people took the road to the plains
...

(for Annelize)

In church I remember you waving a small fan
to dissipate the heat and I was then a young man
...

Wherever the sun does fall with its rays
while in our world people do go on in their ways,
and in the Côte d'Azur, Provence or Pretoria does tarry
there is hope that the new morning does carry
...

In its war-chariot the sun rides thought the blue sky
and every day at a hellish-speed he passes by
leaving scorch marks that do remain
while its wheel-tracks leaves an impression on the brain
...

(for Annelize)

While I am lost in poetry's endevour
daily I do with the writing labour
...

(in answer to John Clare)

Who I am, even if my friends do not, God knows
even when in sin I am lost
...

(in answer to W. H. Auden)

Even if by the stars I am smitten
and they do not know or care
...

(for Annelize)

In your walking I watch your flowing grace
and you are so lovely that I can take you any place
...

The Telkom South Africa landline is down
my eighty nine year old aunt looks at me with a frown
and fifty Rand spent on the mobile phone
do not get assistance and she is still cut-off and alone,
...

At the big old house against the hillock
mother believed that sense she could into us knock
while her Bible she constantly did study
about God taught my brother and me
...