To The Border Poem by Gert Strydom

When I got in at the train door
there were tears glittering in your eyes
and through the open window
we kissed again,
your hands clenched mine,
your image was burnt into my soul
and how you waved
while we pulled away around a corner,

but when projectiles exploded in other armoured cars,
the canon of the Ratel hit with deadly force,
I smelled my own sweat and fear
and I could only see how death looks
and I looked into the abyss.

I were another person without a soul
and you disappeared out of my thoughts
into the naught
and you were wiped out
as if you were in another world,
in another life
and still I stayed
loving you
and the best part of me
was still with you.

[Reference: Na die front by Ernst van Heerden.]