I Do Not Understand Poem by Gert Strydom

(after H. J. Pieterse)

You planted some more dahlias with mine and they are beautiful,
you tell me just after the removal of my furniture from our home.
Also: "forget me, grow up. Continue with your life."

Next door the neighbour threw away her husband's wedding ring.
He wanted to know if I had picked it up in our garden.
Just like me he had to forget and continue with life.

The twittering of weavers that frolic,
lemon-doves that walk around as if tame and coo
and hadidah-ibises that screech I know out of my heart

In all of this you say I must now see my garden,
with some more dahlias and every kind of flower blooming.
They have forgotten of my care and went on with life.

The garden is not mine anymore,
my chilli-bushes and peach-tree has been removed,
they could not go on with life.

On a day you do arrive at my door and say that you do love me.
I do remember: "forget me, grow up. Continue with your life"
I give you another chance and sincerely do love you
but now years later you put our marriage on hold:
I cannot comprehend this.
[Reference: "Elegie" (Elegy) by H. J. Pieterse.]
© Gert Strydom