Seasons Of Life Poem by Gert Strydom

I. Far too rapid (rondelet)

Far too rapid
the long hot summer days sweep past
Far too rapid
love turns to something insipid
and it's as if spring cannot last
as life does end when days seems vast;
far too rapid...


II. There is a secret power (triolet)

There is a secret power
that pours down with the summer rain
and something special in every shower
There is a secret power
when flowers grow to loveliness in every bower
and with love their impressions do remain
There is a secret power
that pours down with the summer rain


III. Disablement

The garden is reflected in the bright window glass
while the summer rain is splashing down
and flowers swish to and thro, point upward
but they are gone in winter and in summer do reappear.

In this way you find a own kind of disablement
when it seems that a relationship only brings a kind of evil
as if love also at a time does reappear
as if it perishes in winter and in summer is bountiful again.


IV. While in seed hidden lies life's awakening might (Rondel Prime)

When the irises flower purple, blue and white
early in the month of April
and they bloom lovely before the winter chill
then there is something special to each day and night

when the last heat is still in the sun's light
before winter stretches out its hand over the dale and hill.
When the irises flower purple, blue and white
early in the month of April

then the early autumn is a colourful sight
as falling leaves does the countryside fill
before winter comes as it will
while in seed hidden lies life's awakening might
when the irises flower purple, blue and white
early in the month of April


V. In winter

Stripped trees are each a mere skeleton
as if they are separated from each other
and starkly alone with branch
that reaches like fingers up to the heaven

while a strong wind devours the leaves,
lurching them away and spreading them everywhere
and still every tree remain near to each other
where you see them etched against the rising sun.

Sleep softly my darling
while the winter wind sings outside,
tries to come in like a wild animal,
as it rattles the windows of the entire house.

Lie cosily and in easy in our bed
while the rain sieves down
and the sun is stole
as if it's lost for the whole of winter

and when the smell of new life
spreads softly through everything
and our hearts do jump with joy
under the anaesthetic of love
and I look to where your hair is spread out
like a dashing mane
with peace written over your entire face


[Remark: Please note that in the Northern and Southern hemispheres of earth the seasons are opposite from each other.]