Loss Poem by Gert Strydom

In the might Orange River
just past Augrabies
you lost your magic ring
and there princess
you cried
while the water around you
circled out wider.

That knotted Russian wedding band
which should have brought you luck
that was for generations in your family
was grabbed
by the fingers of the red water
and was washed away
to maybe decorate the finger
of a dark goddess

and in your soul
you felt the darkness coming near
as if something crept
from the water right into your soul

and the shadows of willow trees
growing on the banks
reached out ominous
as if they were trying to protect you
against something.

Still the sun was bright in the sky,
the blue stretched over the heaven
and your reflection which was thrown
on the surface of the water
was matchless
and I saw tears in your dark green eyes.