From My Childhood Days Poem by Gert Strydom

From my childhood days I do remember
how the duikers in the hillocks
did turn their heads and big-eyed
did prick up their ears
and run away before my footfall,
the whole lot together
into a own direction

where the rock rabbits did scuttle away
in all directions
as if I want to catch one of them
or maybe everyone,

how the coots did call from the reeds at the marsh
and the black widow birds with their long tails
did fly luring over the reeds
and how the plovers did dive down on me
as if they were bombers
and then did drop from the air
and with a so-called broken wings
trying to lead me away from their nests

and the sun in the late afternoons
that did glow red over the hillocks
as if it wanted to hide
just on the other side.

© Gert Strydom