Elna Nel

beyond reason the damage
done to the southern white
sensed as the nervous sky
keeps breathing in and out
...

the dust of empty spaces
washes off children's faces

refresh and restore
...

once more I'll hug
the tips of my fingers
to your chin
in a close dance
...

in the hearth
of the earth
of my mind
today I saw
...

in changing flames of fire
speak to it falsely
speak to it true
words of whispering intention
...

to know His passion
under many moons
in the south
and when He said
...

I found loneliness
in winter's aloe sun
reaching and listening
to the beat of the bark
...

on the wings of a cold
Winter's wind
en route of
the dragon-fly's flight
...

a moment with you
on the sweeping shore
heads low against winds
and pelting sand's peak
...

on cushioned paws
what have you done
in the night
after miles of hunting
...

what I have gone through
what I am still going through
in that degrading place
that they called my case
...

every square has its jewels
you realize every time you move
they keep coming to you
light faces bright
...

strong and courageous
may the light within you
be rose and gold
and reach to
...

in the return of a woman
flies colours of all kinds and cairn
in the misty land of men
on sometimes grass sometimes gravel
...

the road is long
and cumbersome
bump up and down
between sorrel
...

let us plant grass my lord
in semi-shade a cord
buck bay vygies
for color just to see
...

slowly
in plain
step
under shade
...

When I, as if
drugged
groped about
for outcome
...

there is peace
in the roundness
of a polished stone
river rock
...

I wanted so much
to stroke his face
that he can see
how the music of the day
...