Lament On A Sweetheart Poem by Gert Strydom

When I was young and sure of myself
and almost still a greenhorn,
you were already meant for me

and when I came back from the thundering of war
I marvelled about my chances with you,
and got you
as the girlfriend of girlfriends.
.
That time was filled
with almost a life time’s happiness
that was pressed into moments
and your glittering eyes,
the softness of your lips
left me breathless

and with a new beat
my heart was knocking
so if you had become
a part of my being
and could read every though of mine
and comprehended me better
than I myself.

Through university classes I covertly watched you
and my thoughts were only with you
as if nothing else really mattered
and your enchantment
really hit me to the core.

It was if your smile
could even drive away
the grey of a Cape winter
and I started to write verses to you,
gave flowers and gifts
and when you adored me
it was far past special

and utterly naive I believed
that nothing could come between us,
as if love has an own fortress
as an entrenchment.

Now it’s years later
and sometimes when I sleep
I dream that you
are embracing me

and I know
that some flames never die
and I wonder when
I will have a chance with you again

and I am trying to shatter destiny,
to build a life with shoelaces
and like a giant
to stand against life’s thundering blows.