Margaret Kollmer Poems

1. I’d insist on everyones’ feet being de-corned free of charge. Corns and bunions prevent people from thinking on their feet. (Oh, so that’s why …)

2. I’d make the song “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble, ” the national anthem.
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Forsooth, O Shabby one;
we hear your pardon song
When other poorly souls perforce
must languish hard and long.
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I know a man so very wonderful, so good and fine
I know I very much-a wanting him-a to be mine
He very strong and very mighty like makulu ox
And he also very funny in his bedtime sox.
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My father comes from London
En Ma sy’s van de Aar
My Ma say sê mos ‘Dankie’
And Pater: ‘Ever so ta! ’
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Now Dlamini was a mini-Zulu chieftain
At least that’s what he rather liked to think
But Dlamini didn’t laugh when his Mama said, I chaff:
Go help your Pa because you’re driving me to drink!
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Johannesburg (Lyric)

Johannesburg
Johannesburg
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(with Leonard Cohen in mind)

I told the kids my day was made
When the car turned into River Glade
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A visit to your doctor is not what anyone would call a favourite pastime, yet it seems that no matter when you happen to have reason to be there, his rooms are always chock-full of patients and ‘impatients’ as well as a fair sprinkling of the ubiquitous born-again hypochondriacs.

Now, I must say at the outset, that I have nothing personal against doctors. Some of them are my best friends. Getting to see them, let alone speak to them, is another story.
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The year was 1943 and whilst Hitler was rampaging across Europe here, at home in South Africa, a young boy was creating havoc by scaring his sisters witless with his own particular brand of war games.

Television had not yet made its appearance but perhaps radio and dinner table talk between our parents, family and friends was spilling into the little tyrant’s brain but whatever it was, we were not amused.
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Dear Diary.....Told you last month about my visitors
from the States. Cousin John and wife Anne who
are members of Earthwatch and both have
Ox.Ph.D.’s.(Degrees don’t bother me much
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