Notes Of A Hot Pursuit (Haiku's) Poem by Gert Strydom

(after Bernard Odendaal)

The bush is silent
fear flies up with a black coot,
each weapon does train.

*

The radio screech
with its aerial tree high;
a meaningless halt.

*
Equipped with just
light skeleton type webbing;
the spoor becomes faint.

*
The sun burns hell hot,
the rifle, bullets are heavy;
we use the compass.

*

Boondock night is filled
with reconnoitre of the heart;
half ration tastes bad.

*

Without some water
in the scorching heat and wind,
the track disappears.

*

Like a dragonfly
a helicopter swoops down
and we leave the bush.

*
Cannot find hostiles!
In situation report:
still searching the heart.


[Reference: "krabbeling van ‘n hakkejag" (Writings about a hot pursuit) by Bernard Odendaal.]