Gert Strydom Poems

(for Annelize)

From a photo I tried to draw your lovely smiling face
I was scared that in my memories you are without a trace
...

From Denmark came the redheaded beauty
that did draw the attention of many men in the Cape
and I would have loved to meet her
as a really brave woman is remembered.
...

Of a leopard that pounced upon my great-grandfather as a beast from hell
my mother did many true hair-raising stories to us as children tell,
how with a mere folding knife he did loose fingers but did it overcome,
the old people believed of witchcraft at the swamp and it was gruesome,
...

(for Annelize)

It is a bright beautiful summer day
but my love is a thousand miles away
...

She who begs a boon like a maiden do glow
while dancing she does before the king turn
and in his heart his lust for her does burn
he promises anything on her to bestow
...

When grandfather Noah came out of the ark at mount Ararat
the whole world around him was still wet
and just there he wanted to build a house
but Ham and his people took the road to the plains
...

(for Annelize)

In church I remember you waving a small fan
to dissipate the heat and I was then a young man
...

Wherever the sun does fall with its rays
while in our world people do go on in their ways,
and in the Côte d'Azur, Provence or Pretoria does tarry
there is hope that the new morning does carry
...

In its war-chariot the sun rides thought the blue sky
and every day at a hellish-speed he passes by
leaving scorch marks that do remain
while its wheel-tracks leaves an impression on the brain
...

(for Annelize)

While I am lost in poetry's endevour
daily I do with the writing labour
...