When I Do Awake Without You Poem by Gert Strydom

(in answer to Helena Enslin, after Johann Johl)

Destiny separates us at times, my love,
this weekend we are away from each other
as if continents and the seven seas lies between us
and when I do awake in the morning,
the barbet and weavers sing their love-songs
the bed is empty next to me,
it feels as if only my shadow falls in this life
and still the sun hangs hotter up high,

I remember your breath in my neck,
eternal moments between life and death,
when more than a thousand times you did hold me in awe,
while other people surly went on with their lives
in a country where almost everything is going to waste
where through all things you are with me.

I wish you could through my eyes look at the world,
in the dark daybreak hear the doves coo,
could feel my love truly throb
deep in the beating of your heart
but the church-bell rings in the distance
where continually it counts off the time
while the morning-star hangs silver-white
and maybe this longing tells how deep love is,

when I do awake without you and the morning enraptures me,
the sun's orange-red colour fills the whole horizon.

[References: "As ek opstaan in die môre" ("When I rise in the morning")by Helena Enslin, "Tweepas" (Two-paced)by Johann Johl.

I quote Helena Enslin's poem "When I rise in the morning" here:

"When I rise in the morning
I see life in your smile.
You are my joy, my peace,
and my reason for existence.
When I rise in the morning
I want to talk to you,
do want to find the beauty of life,
for moments lost in your glance.
When I rise in the morning
and the red-rose day does brake
I want to stretch the hours out
when the blue of your eyes do catch mine.
But this morning my bed is empty,
my heart is without a song,
sadness comes without words when the red-day morning breaks
when I arise without you."]

© Gert Strydom