This Simple Picture (Hybridanelle) Poem by Gert Strydom

(after Lord George Gordon Byron)

This simple picture of your charms,
(is what I in my poetic art can give,)
leaves me speechless and disarms.

Here, I look into eyes of liquid gold,
I see your fair hair in wave upon wave,
I look at the eyes with meaning manifold,

the lines of years of unsought harms,
where you are my reason to live.
This simple picture of your charms,

the face that came from God's mould
make that no one can your beauty deny,
I see your fair hair in wave upon wave,

your strong fingers and slender arms,
the way you glance says you are attentive,
leaves me speechless and disarms,

it's something more than the expression in the eye,
something in the colouring of the hue,
make that no one can your beauty deny

and the smile that the heart warms,
adds to you being more than just attractive.
This simple picture of your charms,

are to your lovely character true,
where you are far more than just dear to me.
Something in the colouring of the hue,

does other men both attract and alarms,
is of a sharp mindset representative,
leaves me speechless and disarms,

as special you to me are meant to be
and this poetic picture is just simple art,
where you are far more than just dear to me

and your smile and mind that with wit rearms,
paints you vivid, friendly and active.
This simple picture of your charms,
leaves me speechless and disarms

and this poem is just simple art.
Here, I look into eyes of liquid gold
as you are in my soul, mind and heart,
I look at the eyes with meaning manifold…

[Poet's note: "To Mary, on receiving her picture" by Lord George Gordon Byron.]