Two Weddings And No Funeral Poem by Gert Strydom

The first time I wed
it was in Parrow church
since it was bigger
than the one in Belville.

The church was packed
and I waited
while the golden metallic Mercedes
drove a couple of times
around the church.

My heart skipped a beat
when you entered
dressed in white
and to this day
your beauty still baffles me.

I was at my nerves edge
and so were you,
but we did fine
and I received you
from you dad

and my brother
gave me the ring
with it’s seven diamonds
to me a special thing
for which I sold my motorbike.

We said our words,
kissed and cameras
caught every thing.

The reception was at the Cape Sun
and I remember struggling
to get the garter belt off
and you blushed
when my hands found
your right leg.

Every thing went very well
and that evening
was our only honeymoon
since furniture and rent
had taken the money
that I possed.

The wedding with my second wife
was at Winterton
near the Drakensberg mountains
and early that morning
we drove through from Pretoria
with my white Elantra
and we decided to run off
and wed totally alone.

Outside the parsonage
you walked up and down
in that dusty street,
until I caught up
and gave you a good kiss
which settled your nerves.

At the parsonage the minister
talked to us
before he wedded us in the church
with his wife
playing the organ
and we both were dressed
in leather jackets,
not kids anymore
and past the time
for having a show.

Your eyes glittered with joy
and we drove off for lunch
at the Drakensberg Sun
and we kissed and kissed
as if every thing was new and pure
and we had some champagne
and a great meal.

That honeymoon we spent
at Alpine Heath
and that snowy winter
we were real close
and together explored
the Drakensberg mountain peaks
and all the waterfalls
and then you did love me.

Both these weddings
came to a end,
the first girl
fell in love
with my so called friend
and divorced me.

The second girl
ran away with a lover
when we had to move
out of a sold house
and I divorced her

and still as far
as love goes
my way isn’t clear
and sometimes
I hold a girl dear.