Mere Existence (In Answer To Breyten Breytenbach) Poem by Gert Strydom

With the hot sun daily appearing,
the beauty of the glittering stars at night,
the wind dancing through the leaves
it seems as if every thing is caught,

as if existence is mere rejoicing
in which insects, birds and people are frolicking,
as if we are in a world that is only waiting
for bigger glory with each coming day

as if our lives are not measured out
to mere existence, as if time can last eternally,
as if time itself is missing,
only is something fleeting that we experience,

as if everything is caught in the here and now,
in that which we experience and live through,
the feelings in the heart,
the principles of loving

but reality
is filled with heartache,
illnesses, suffering and pain
with our youth that disappears,

there is grey coming to our hairs,
the beauty of our faces,
our bodies decay with the years
and time is measured out for every one

until when our lives suddenly
or gradually comes to a end,
where each one of us decays
like just another wilting flower.

[Reference: “daar is geen tyd” (“there is no time”) by Breyten Breytenbach.]