Colour (Free Verse Sonnet) Poem by Gert Strydom

(for Annelize, after Tientjie du Toit)

Grey is the turtledove that comes down fluttering,
delicately bodied the laughing dove looks at him
where greedy they do peck the crumbs
and with the swarm of birds I am astonished,
with the sparrows, collared-barbet and yellow weaver
that frolic to and thro and up and down between them,
the yellow speckled barbet that peck amongst them
and open the sky is blue with the sun shining brightly
but your hair is dark-brown, darker that the ground,
and redder than watermelon is your soft mouth
with your eyes green-brown but brighter than the sun
where I see you at sunrise
but brighter is your smile at the homecoming welcome
when with arms wide open you wait upon me to meet.

[Reference: "Kleur" (Colour)by Tientjie du Toit.]