Marginal Notes At Our Own Time Poem by Gert Strydom

When Aaron walked with a pan of fire
through the people
in that hour
he brought salvation
walked with hope
to supplant the pestilence
before it could circle out.

The face of Moses was full of light
when he came down the mountain
back from God
and he was astounded
by the misdeeds
of his people

for whom the light was inexorable
who rather wanted to celebrate in feast,
wanted to fry and slaughter animals
rather than to invade a promised land
and then had to journey through the desert.

Here where I am already living
in the Promised Land
there is now a struggle
going on for survival

and the fire comes
that flames over my whole nation,
even though we are still
in the hand of the Lord of the universe

and when the light looks inexorable,
the roads of the enemy’s gorging
looks so inviting, or menacing,
I know that the struggle still goes on
of people who decently wants to make a living
in an own place.