To Mother Poem by Gert Strydom

As years before
my mother nursed me
and this is extraordinary
at the age of forty six
and she prepared meals,
washed my clothes
and did the ironing
and in the garden we toiled together

and in this spring I pray for rainy weather
while new plants, new flowers
and new vegetables are coming to life.


While I write some poetry,
motorcycle to the Internet café
to look for work, to publish some poems
and then again come home
we have tea for two
and although I would like to be
settled down, with a great job once more
a girl who truly loves me, maybe a whole family
I wouldn't have it any other way
and day-by-day she keeps encouraging
and to me is
the most beautiful flower of this spring.

[Written 1 September 2009.]