Pure Mathematics Poem by Gert Strydom

(after N. P. Van Wyk Louw)

As if a mere moment is captured
in a photograph but much more than that
out at sea just before the wave splashing breaks,
just coming out of the barrel
the surfer and everything is frozen,
with drops of water hanging
almost in a iridescent veil
where they were falling
from the twisting wave.

On the pier a fisherman has a hammer
high above his head where he was
beating a octopus to almost to a pulp
even the cruelty of this deed
everything is motionless
while on his face there is concentration.

In the sky in a prolonged screech
five seagulls call as if even sound
is still hanging in mid-note
and above them a helicopter
that was throbbing at full speed
hangs as if it is going to decent
while the chopping sound of its blades
is right in the middle of a chop

beneath the water a shark
quite near to that surfer
has penetrated the protective net
that runs along the beach
to keep dangerous predators out
and with its mouth open
it's ready to bite at a bleeding injured tuna-fish
that tuna lives while that moment
of its death has not come just yet.

[Reference: "Suiwer wiskunde" (Pure Mathematics)by N.P.Van Wyk Louw.]

© Gert Strydom