At Baalbek Poem by Gert Strydom

(in answer to Totius, in answer to Dolf van Niekerk)

Against the crumbling six pillars stand sky-high
even at this utterly heathen sun-worshiping place,
where the colonnades do stand alone at Baalbek
I look at the bow of a Jupiter-arch
and totally desolate everything lies for the eye,
where an earthquake in 1759 brought destruction,
the extent of this place jumps into my mind
and over the whole earth God has got His scope,
even at this utterly heathen sun-worshiping place.

I need no oracle to tell me about love,
when in this ancient place you lay your hand down into mine
and even if as a mere human I am confused and stupid about love,
you and the Lord God do constantly astonish me.
I only know that I do want to love God first and thereafter want to love you
and God and you with your love do turn my days around,
where at this evil place you do come to me with open arms
nobody and nothing can stop this love,
when in this ancient place you lay your hand down into mine.

[Reference:"Baälbek"(Baalbek)by Totius."By Delfi gloei die rotse" (At Delphi the rocks glow)by Dolf van Niekerk.]

© Gert Strydom