Fortress Poem by Gert Strydom

Like a huge dragon
of which the back reaches into the clouds
they lay in front of our fathers
in their great trek

where with their women and children,
horses, ox-wagons, cattle
and sheep
they did have to go over the peaks.

The fortress could not stop the British
as they did come through the passes,
did shoot their way open with cannon and bomb
while a hand full of Boer tried to stop them.

To this day it gives shelter to the Sothos
where the Drakensberg Mountains do sling into their country
where with their ponies they ride on the ledges.

Yet in those peaks
I did find a kind of tranquillity,
it was as if the bright blue sky
and golden sun were binding there

as if I found the presence of God
in the mountains,
as if I could raise my eyes
and God was standing near to me.

[Poet's note:The Afrikaans name Drakensberg literary means dragons mountains.]

© Gert Strydom