Gert Strydom Poems

(for Annelize)

In a dim grey world you bring gladness
do drive away all of life's pain and madness
...

(after C. M. van der Heever)

The orange-red moon rises as if it is sailing in the sky
where the last rays of the sun do disappear
...

In the black townships the days and nights clatter pass
while mini-bus taxis are constantly at war
with every bus and train and do protect their routes with murder,
they shoot with AK-47's as they do drive pass
...

(for Annelize)

I adore you late at night, at daybreak and in the afternoon,
even if the days of hardship would come without an end,
...

(for Annelize, after I. D. du Plessis)

Your love is a pure light
that radiates my whole world
...

(for Annelize, in answer to Daniel Hugo)

Your sunny glance is brighter and more cheerful
than the riant suns, moons and stars in the universe
...

(after Percy Bysshe Shelley)

I
...

The poet that although trampled upon did dedicate himself to God I do see
the words of his "het schrijverke" stays with me
in the city dreams and prosperity and success everywhere is celebrated
but as a poet in his own time Guido Gezelle will stay humiliated
...

Outside a mulberry tree hangs to the ground
but in my thoughts his odes do jump around,
inside where my feet creak on the floor
he wrote the poems that people do nowadays adore
...

(for Annelize)

As if this summer is staying forever and do not pass away
with you I do want to live on each blessed sunny day,
...