Van Der Decken Poem by Gert Strydom

Sometimes just before a breaking storm
standing at the old wooden tiller of your ship
far away from the Cape shore

you sail forever more,
smitten to ride the waves eternally
even with a windless pail stormy sky

driving your ancient ship across the sea
with it creaking, with sails trembling
with the woodwork ages long needing repair

right out of the forming fog
you appear with a fist clenched above your head
still cursing the creator God

as a token to all men,
even witnessed by a king,
by naval ships at war
you Van der Decken, sail on forever more.