Gert Strydom Poems

1
When I found myself again all my possessions are loaded off,
where your children on command carry my things into a place,
as if you turn your back on me and on our life together
...

Free from the nightly gambol and drinking of the neighbours
it's from Petersfield extension one that I drive away,
almost as if for that Jericho the shofars are already blowing
and you think that for a time you can put our marriage on hold,
...

(after H. J. Pieterse)

You planted some more dahlias with mine and they are beautiful,
you tell me just after the removal of my furniture from our home.
...

(after Ingrid Jonker)

In this piercing umbrella-thorn bush
you left me behind with a marriage put on hold
...

(in answer to S. Ign Mocke)

During the night you laid in my arms,
the stars appeared and went on their way
...

There are woodpeckers and barbets knocking on the window,
at mere crumbs birds peck on the ground
and it's as if each one calls happy to me,
a swarm of doves flutter down
...

Like an angel's bright glimmering light
in thoughts you appear to me with a glow,
as the woman that I do deeply know,
fair and sweet you come into my sight:
...

I wish you would tell those things
of which the heart and soul alone knows.
I would have our lives much different
but the beautiful things I cannot forget.
...

(after Edith Nesbit)

After the first decent shower of rain
the roses flower red, yellow and white
...

(in answer to H.A. Fagan)

Orange and brown the leaves fall in the autumn
when stripped trees stand like skeletons,
...