On A Journey Poem by Gert Strydom

One day I travelled with uncle Sias
and we were on our way to the bushveld
and his expensive German car was loaded,
but just on the other side of Warmbaths
we turned off.

On this trip I learned a few things
from uncle Sias,
that stays with me
to this day.

His car was very fast
and he had money
to pay speed fines,
but his foot was light
and we travelled decently.

We stopped next to the road
and I was puzzled at what was wrong
because the road was still long,
but he said
that the sun is drawing water.

The boot was opened
and we stretched our legs
and a umbrella, a folding table,
folding chairs, a gas stove
and a pot appeared.

It was evident that he made travelling
into a pleasant thing
and just then and there,
we brewed redbush tea.

At that moment I knew
that life is like a journey
and that things depend,
on what you make of it.

In the field next to the road
some birds were calling,
while we took life peacefully
and still to this day
I see that turnoff
where it disappeared in the distance.