The Jewel Of The Mountain Poem by Daleen Enslinstrydom

In the Simonsberg mountains lays a valley
that is intricately woven in the colours and shades
of the late summer and the beginning of autumn
when the leaves have an array of different hues
and in the vast distance it looks like a quilted blanket.

This is wine country and in the fertile valley
on the vineyards the grapes are ripening
and they do look as if they are jewels
that is caught in the sun
and the colours vary from the darkest red
to the golden tones of green.

This valley invites you to stay
it speaks to every sense,
creates tranquil silences in your mind
and you have got a feeling
of taking off your shoes
to linger and pour a glass of wine,
and at a open fire
to wait for the sun to set over the hills.

With dusk the entire valley lights up
like the fire lilies after the bush fires
setting a condensed atmosphere of splendour
as if this is the kind of place
where even angels could dwell.

In these mountains you can get lost
in small areas of paradise
where streams and gorges are trapped
in rock fortresses

and this is a place
with stories of wandering ghosts
and here you will find that the wind has voices,
that nature had a special kind of splendour.