A Reply To The Nymph Poem by Gert Strydom

(after Christopher Marlow, in answer to Sir Walter Raleigh)

Throughout the world the greatness of love is proofed
as by it the hearts and minds of men and woman are moved.
Sincerity hope and faith is the essence to put love in place
not just the lovely spell and effect of your gorgeous face.

Although time like an anvil has an impact on all kinds of things,
it in its domain health and glory and pain and downfall brings
even do turn the young and strong to feeble and old,
but love has a capacity to be everlasting I am told.

Where when winter come the flowers fade and are withering
they are once more restored in beauty with the coming of spring
while with toil and prayers and knowledge summer gives abundance
I beg you to take sincere my heartfelt feelings and give our love a chance.

A decision to trust each other is love at its deepest core,
to set love as a principle between us and from that to expect much more.
All of the small tokens although insignificant is just a expression of sincerity
as you do mean much more than all of the world and everything in it to me.

All of nature, its beauty and abundance speak volumes of a love divine
and I can give you nothing greater than the heart and life that is mine.
Pure honesty, sincerity, liberty, friendship, devotion and love that is true
are the only real and worthy gifts that I have left to give to you

where I am just a mortal man living in a world full of mortality
yet inanimate without you and your love my life would be
but still as in everything in this world I leave the choice to you
to with reason and feeling your own sincere will to do.

[References: "The passionate shepherd to his love" by Christopher Marlow. "The nymph's reply to the shepherd" by Sir Walter Raleigh.]

© Gert Strydom