On The Other Side Of The Lomba River Poem by Gert Strydom

There are flashes hitting in the distance,
bad weather hanging on the other side of the Lomba river
with tanks standing ablaze

nothing can stop the war clouds
(while the shots of enemy tanks resound)
or stop the slaughter of the angel of death

and Fapla, Cubans and Russians perish
and we also receive deadly shots.
There are flashes hitting in the distance,

where we teach them a final lesson in Africa
when the enemy appear
but olifant tanks and Ratel armoured cars are stuck in a landmine field

and howitzer canons fire
at the beginning of the slaughter
with tanks standing ablaze

and there are olifant tanks and Ratel armoured cars disappearing in the bush
with rockets raining down
when the enemy appear

which rip enemy weaponry into pieces
and division after division comes under restraint.
There are flashes hitting in the distance,

and the canons of howitzers, tanks and armoured cars fire continuously
while the smell of death is everywhere
with rockets raining down

with few enemy being still alive,
with some leaving intact tanks, fleeing to survive
with tanks standing ablaze

and I am conscious of the inhumanity
and feelings of powerlessness
while the smell of death is everywhere

and the slaughter goes on and on
and human life isn’t important.
There are flashes hitting in the distance,
with tanks standing ablaze

and whatever you do or mean
nothing can stop the war clouds
and feelings of powerlessness
or stop the slaughter of the angel of death.