I Take A Bus That Goes To Vryburg Poem by Gert Strydom

I take a bus that goes to Vryburg
from Pretoria station
and there are people about me

and we are all caught
in a own world
with destiny on which everything depends

and cornfields flash by
and the bus roars on past some ruins.
I take a bus that goes to Vryburg

and the road winds like a snake,
teenagers are listening to music
in a own world

and I am going to Vryburg to collect a car,
I see a man with wild bushy hair
and there are people about me

who click together
and we drive through the main street of a town,
teenagers are listening to music

and everyone tells something of his or her hurt,
even the younger generation.
I take a bus that goes to Vryburg

and a young girl looks somewhat desperate
with innocent beauty
and we drive through the main street of a town,

and she gets scared and more scared
without any intimidation
and there are people about me

on whom family wait in Vryburg
and she is going to her parent’s home
with innocent beauty,

and she prays to have a life again
and wears plain clothes.
I take a bus that goes to Vryburg
and there are people about me

and she is pregnant and can call nowhere home
and we are all caught
and she is going to her parent’s home
with destiny on which everything depends.