The Fire At Helderberg Mountain Poem by Gert Strydom

Under the white clouds that hangs like a sheet
we saw a mountain burning,
saw it red aflame
with a pine plantation that was burning down.
Students with tractors and trailers and pickup trucks

did ride up with the narrow mountain roads
to cut down pine trees
in front of the fire spewing dragon
until darkness did come with a strong wind,

and fire brigade trucks from as far as Cape Town
did come to the houses, the university against
the Helderberg Mountain with flashing red lights

to try and stop the flames
while the fire did jump from tree to tree,
while the whole forest did come alight.

Under a white moon the sky was orange-red
while two helicopters were throwing down streams of water
and for miles the fire could be seen
while fire-fighters did drop their equipment,

when it looked as if the sun were rising from the earth,
with lights from Summerset West
were arriving white and gold
and people were caught by the spectacle
others were astounded by the damage to their property.

© Gert Strydom