The Doldrums Poem by Gert Strydom

(after Etienne van Heerden)

The ocean lies flat like a mirror
without any stream or surging swell around me,
without any waves or wind
where the sails of my words do hang down
and experienced poets have told me of this
but I had laughed at them about their inability,
where moments of streched out silence do come
without any words,
I was sceptic about their great fear
for the streched out horizon that meets the sea
at a place where sound and sight and smell and feeling
does disappear into the naught and there is but nothing,
as if you cannot find a way out,
as if no sincere words will ever again come.

[Reference: "Doldrums" by Etienne van Heerden.]

© Gert Strydom