Down A Inaccessible Cliff (Refrain Stanza Sequence) Poem by Gert Strydom

(after C. M. van der Heever)

Were the scolding of the vultures resound
high above the ground
a boy dropped down a ravine
and up in the heaven the sun did shine
where a solution his father thought he had found:
he got hold of the strongest rope and tied it on a saddle and did send it down
and although weak the boy smiled as his father's bravery was renown
but still the vultures made their chilling sound
high above the ground.

The father's hands did bleed from the rope
almost too scared to look he did cope
and then there was a hellish cry when the rope did break
while the child fell violently and laid still where he did ache
and in despair the father looked down that slope
as it was clear that no rope or nothing would be able to rescue him
and the father did pray while the chance of escape was dim
while he entrusted the situation to God and in His salvation did hope,
almost too scared to look he did cope

Far down was the boy as a broken rag-doll caught in great pain
while a deadly silence did over the mountain remain
a single hands moved slowly as if reaching up and did fall
and where the farther looked down he looked small
both brave boy and brave father was now with fear almost insane
when the unsteady hand of the father lifted the rifle but he took aim perfectly
a tear flowed down the father's cheek while only his beloved son he did see
on target the shot ringed and the father cried again
while a deadly silence did over the mountain remain.

[Reference:"Waar ruwwe rotse" (|Where rough rocks)by C. M. van der Heever.]