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Gert Strydom, 11 march 2013
Another winter (imagism)
Biting coldness grabs me with rain on this winter night -
where I walk along the promenade
and the wind is alive
and grabs on to me and grabs me again
like a impudent child
and bleak-white a lightning bolt crashes down
and I smell the explosion of that intimacy
while the red face of the moon bursts out of the sea,
disappears and are again present,
like a swimming champion
that breaks through the water with breaststroke
and for moments I stand to watch the water
which is black, wild and stormy
like a very angry woman
and I hear the moaning of the wind,
while the stars peer at me through the wind tossed clouds
with strange earnest faces.
Gert Strydom, 15 march 2013
A place in the sun
(in answer to Daleen Enslin-Strydom)
There are moments in every day
when the small things
that are happening brings
a sense of belonging
makes my thoughts, my longings stray,
to you and like a child
in faith, in trust
you are my hope, the one
when all other things are gone.
Sometimes it’s difficult to find tranquillity
to be the one that you expect me to be
but our love has got wings that overreach
each new tomorrow
and it goes far beyond sorrow and pain
we are no longer just each to each
and something does remain
something that is really great and sublime
as if from the first moment in time
we were created to be together
as if hard wired into our souls
we are to be never alone.
From far beyond the sun, stars,
planets and galaxies beyond the know universe
our time and place in the sun was set;
before we had even met
you were destined to be my wife
and I have know that a time will come
as if our being together was written in stone.
[Reference: “A place in the sun” by Daleen Enslin-Strydom.]
Gert Strydom, 25 june 2012
You fit perfectly into my life (sonnet)
You fit perfectly into my life
I feel your steps where ever I go,
I even see your reflection in the glass
without it betraying your presence
and the times that we laugh together
now are happening more and more;
as if our humanity waits on each other
fragments of current events stay lingering,
as if you are the light in my life
I search for signs in the Milky Way,
in human recollections and even in memories
to find why you are know, but without explanation
of this connection between us,
that only draws us tighter together.
Gert Strydom, 8 january 2013
Maybe I come from a time
Maybe I come from a time
where things were better and different
than they are now
and still I keep believing and do trust
that every person deserves an own place in the sun.
Even when some of my wife’s family members
have been mowed down by criminals in a robbery
I still want to keep believing
in our country, in our time
some kind of change will come,
that people will grant each other a own free existence,
that the Lord God walks at the front of the road
to make it even
and that this is a year of prosperity and hope.
Gert Strydom, 21 february 2013
I have to escape from the city’s roaring din
I have to escape from the city’s roaring din,
from the continuous rushing of hasty feet,
to a place of tranquillity that I do adore
where the breaking blue sea is rushing in,
far away from the crowded busy street
at the shelter of a snow-white pure shore.
Gert Strydom, 8 march 2013
Our love that was lost
Our love that was lost
has been again found,
but at a terrible cost
heartache drove me into the ground.
Our garden is again blossoming
while in love we carefully plant
kisses and caresses,
swear to each other to be true
and somehow I forever new
that this day of happiness would come,
even in the darkest night
dreamt of you.
Gert Strydom, 12 march 2013
I see a small shack
I see a small shack
with pumpkins and rock
on the tinplate roof
to keep it in place.
There’s fog hanging over the marsh
and the croaking of frogs
comes forth like a choir.
I smell rain
that suddenly is falling on the outside
and the smell rises from the red brown dust,
and I see thunderbolts
drawing blue lines
and I am well sheltered
against wind and rain
and around me
the maize fields are green
and I have found my own little Eden.
Gert Strydom, 28 march 2013
There is a place where everything comes together
There is a place where everything comes together,
where life comes to a kind of crossing point
where joy, pleasure and deep anguish
even every crisis does get an answer,
where the blood of God covers sin,
where man is not being forced to believe
but have got a own choice,
and the selfless love of God does comes free
and here where our earth
by our own choice has gone to tatters,
we that are mortal live like gods
until everything that is living wants to avoid us
and we are never without our own will
but in all of this we do loose God.
Gert Strydom, 19 july 2013
Lily of the valley (Novelinee)
With a natural kind of subtle ease
aromatic your small bell-shaped flowers
bloom somewhere among the many trees,
quietly springing up after rain showers
you bring happiness and bliss through fate
with a unmistakeable sweet green scent
luring the nightingale to its mate
before your fragile flowering is spent
as if some angels down your steps descent.
Gert Strydom, 23 december 2011
When Christmas comes
When Christmas comes, while the flowers
here are blooming during summer,
I am astounded by the things
in the windows of the shops
and I am at times wondering
if everybody realizes what gift
You gave to the wide world,
with your coming as a insignificant human being
and I see people wishing each other well,
wishing a prosperous new year
and wonder if anybody still believes
in the salvation that You do bring,
if your crucifixion and the affliction of it
really pervades to humanity?
Gert Strydom, 27 december 2011
When in history, stories and poems I read (Sonnet Corona)
(after William Shakespeare)
I
When in history, stories and poems I read
about the greatest, the most fair persons
with the remarkable lives they did lead,
of knights guarding ladies for some reasons
then in you my lovely darling princess,
I see in everything, even your brow
more beauty than pens of old did express
and in the lovely looks that are yours now
is such exceeding glorious, awesome grace,
that all declarations prefigure you
up to this very moment in time and space,
are just substitutes trying to hold true,
to you the world is waiting as if ready,
arise - walk into my arms, my lady.
II
Arise - walk into my arms, my lady,
rise up my beloved true companion
the hot bright summer sun is already
falling with a love filled emotion
on the pure white leaves of the lilies,
the finches are already twittering
the wind is passing quick like young fillies
and outside the entire world is stirring.
Rise up my sweetest white lovely rose
and awake to the blessed bright morning,
arise from you tranquil kind of repose
and experience the greatness of spring,
of everything that’s good, great and living,
hear the joyous songs, the alluring feeling.
III
Hear the joyous songs, the alluring feeling,
from what is held as a true loveliness,
others have just some features been stealing;
your looks, grace, personality do not digress.
Not doom or the evil works of destiny
can control each and every coming thing,
can totally control either you or me,
or the pure fountain from where all things spring.
Neither is my love for you controlled by
events, people or situations that impact on it
as I have many kinds of choices that lie
in my two hands, that changes bit by bit.
In all kinds of things I want to be true,
may my lines only express love to you.
IV
May my lines only express love to you,
tell no lies and not lack in sincerity
and whatever I now say and I do
become deeper and carry more integrity.
As constantly my love grows intense
and with time it becomes much clearer
that at no one else’s pain or expense,
that you are now becoming much dearer
than that what you used to be to me
and although I thought that no other love
could ever be more sincere and free
more intense, or could still more improve,
our love is better than only moments ago
while it still have hours, days and years to grow.
V
While it still have hours, days and years to grow
to our love, may these words be our monument,
may it in sincerity forever glow
may it stay, when everything else is spent.
These words are left by me as did others
but all of my sincere feelings for you
must not contain anything that bothers
as they are full of integrity and true
and we might only be like the moth and flame
attracted to light and differences
but the feelings still do remain the same,
which I do profane as does the consequences
and still I am just trying to stay true,
even in rout I keep honouring you.
VI
Even in rout I keep honouring you,
I who have nothing, but sincerity,
I must be able to find something true,
in the extreme darkness that surrounds me.
When I see the lights of heaven glancing
through your lovely clear sun filled eyes,
when you are smiling so all-embracing
I am not bothered by any cloudy skies.
When I was but still extremely young,
I walked through the veldt many a mile,
the loveliest sight did to the sky belong
while I was lost in its hot sunshine smile,
I was seeing the world through childlike eyes,
when I was sincere, stripped from lies.
VII
When I was sincere, stripped from lies;
I was wondering what to find in darkness
that is just as clear as the bright blue skies,
that is honourable, free from wickedness?
When most of my days are quickly rushing past
will you then as now, still truly love me,
in old age, when any day can be my last?
Will you still be happy, laugh joyously,
be here to keep me with sweet company
when I am broken by destiny in contrast
to the young man that I used to be,
when all of the good things in life do pass?
Will I then still feel your body’s true heat,
when in history, stories and poems I read?
Gert Strydom, 10 january 2012
Some silence hanged wordless between us
Next to a silver river, a clear stream
you were dreaming against a willow,
with a small smile, silent and satisfied
as if something great happened in the past
when your bright eyes suddenly caught mine,
words hang silently between us.
In your eyes light sparkled like stars,
a leave fell and glided away
when suddenly a plover called from the marsh
with others answering from far away
when your bright eyes suddenly caught mine,
words hang silently between us.
Where the water flows endlessly
you got quickly to your feet,
your glance went deep into my soul
and we could not evade our feelings,
when your bright eyes suddenly caught mine,
words hang silently between us.
Gert Strydom, 16 january 2012
Life is not what it seem (wreathed quatrains) (in answer to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
There’s nothing that can stop the sands of time
some lives sublime will face death on a day
nothing can stay, without reason or rhyme
existence does begrime, by destiny swept away;
great men play and live, leave prints in the sand,
they are grand, but they lead others to disaster,
as plaster impressions, difficult to understand
very underhand few can their tricks master
and faster life passes; it’s not what it seems;
as in a dream events are ever changing,
everything does not turnout as we do deem,
self-esteem does not always happiness bring,
even achieving and pursuing, may bring a end
in a world bend, while for justice we wait
with hate, on words and acts till we are spent,
while descent nothing is or even straight
.
but in our gait, if we do trust in God,
even if ungodly we act in recreation
on every occasion to the final sod
it’s quite odd, He brings a new creation.
[Reference: “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.]
Gert Strydom, 17 january 2012
With every sunny day coming in this summer
With every sunny day coming in this summer,
with each flower it’s as if God himself is here,
I find knowledge hidden between the flowers,
as something of Him, I became aware of Him,
there is rest with the sun in the blue sky,
I am not anxious; weavers are playing in the branches,
some are speckled, my life becomes serene,
in the outside air, even near the precipice
I feel healthy, as if He is bringing hope or life,
where birds are singing and every day is full of promises,
is full of love, with His love
that pierces everything, even the secrets of life.
Gert Strydom, 25 january 2012
Thunder (cinquain)
Thunder;
blue-white energy
flashing downward sizzling,
frightens everyone of blazing
flashes.
Gert Strydom, 2 february 2012
I know the harsh wilderness (roundelay)
I know the harsh wilderness, the wild veldt,
the craggy hillocks I had at times beheld,
the wide open scorching cobalt-blue sky
but the tranquillity I cannot deny.
There are some aloes growing in the crags
their orange-red flowers waving like flags,
like old spots of blood dotted on the eye
but the tranquillity I cannot deny.
Sugar-bush and medlar in spring does flower,
while grass jumps knee-high after each shower,
up in the air falcons and eagles do fly
but the tranquillity I cannot deny.
Time has not influence on this rugged land
where high cliffs are between the grass and sand,
I had seen rock-rabbits run at a single cry
but the tranquillity I cannot deny.
Gert Strydom, 16 april 2012
To you who always are in my thoughts (English sonnet)
If our sweet love could not be compared,
if it could not by anything be quenched,
to love you so then I tried, I dared
without expecting to be recompensed,
maybe at the start I was much to bold ,
believing absurdly in sincerity
and I told you clearly what my heart hold
but now I need more than just charity
that with each other our intimate dealings
will be mature, be bound by the same spell,
that there will be magic in your feelings
not only kissing and wishing me well:
for far too many years you have been free.
If you honestly love me, then tell me.
Gert Strydom, 4 june 2012
There is a land (cavatina)
There is a land of endless light, where night
never does come,
where spring and summer boundless stays in that
eternal home,
where love and delight only true joys bring,
where no fears roam;
in that bright place that brings eternal rest,
there is a God, that selfless loves me best.
Gert Strydom, 22 june 2012
The goshawk
The turning hawk suddenly breaks its flight
with claws stretched out,
it falls like thunder from the sky.
The turning hawk suddenly breaks its flight
and even when its prey is anxious
.it falls as if it is drawing into the earth;
the turning hawk suddenly breaks its flight,
with claws stretched out.
Gert Strydom, 26 june 2012
Church Street, Pretoria
Right down the street the traffic lights are green
and a couple of homeless men stand around a fire
in a half drum and ambulances and police cars scream
while they past rows and rows of flats for hire
and a couple of kids stand smoking at the stream
and this is reality, the heart of the city.
On the sidewalk pedestrians walk in crowds of men,
women and some children, some booted up to the knee
others with mini skirts short enough to condemn them
and my city stays lovely to me.
People queue for fried chicken, fish
and chips at shops and cafés and the smells fill my nose
and tomatoes and onions, lamb and steak are fried with a hiss
and in the traffic an angry speed-cop tries to retain his pose
when a minibus taxi almost runs him over, gives him a fright
at a flickering traffic light
and cars stream by into the coming night.
Gert Strydom, 3 july 2012
While I am still far over the hill
When life takes me
over ghastly paths with a precipice
I want to stray into the darkness
but still your heaven is stretched out blue over me,
with the sun burning intense warm white
and I look at the moon where it’s high,
or low in a variety of
yellow, white and even silver colours
and when the wind rises cruelly to devour me
You are always there with arms wide open,
like a father coming to the rescue,
who is already running
while I am still far over the hill.
Gert Strydom, 4 july 2012
An ibis screeched outside in the garden
An ibis screeched outside
in the garden
suddenly slapped its big bronze-brown wings
and touched
by the frenzy you turned around,
without a word
pulled me deep into your arms,
suddenly you covered my face with kisses.
Gert Strydom, 16 july 2012
Last
When the light dims from my eyes
there will be no fatherly hand
to hold on to mine
to feel the last pulse
of life beating
while the darkness claims me
and when I disappear from life,
glide into death
You are the Father
that I find on the other side.
[References: “Erato” by Anyte. Laaste (Last) by Riana Scheepers.]
Gert Strydom, 17 july 2012
Progress
Dress your legs with nylons
with cat eyes in between
glowing next to huge pylons
never serene, just weirdly obscene
and destroy every patch of green
with shopping malls and every chain store
disrupting how towns and cities had been
and plant power stations by the score
and be a age totally foul
with scores of minibus taxi’s asunder
acting as if without a soul
to kill and to plunder
with the monsters bellowing
smoke like gallows, energizing electrical strings.
Gert Strydom, 17 july 2012
Like ants living clustered in (cavatina)
Like ants living clustered in, we do live
and are rushing
without noticing the red rising sun;
and everything
falls into place in our quickened pace
and each feeling,
action, glance is set in a quick-fix day
where we do loose the ability to pray,
with significant others instead of
husbands and wives,
where our children do not have to obey,
living their lives
totally Godless as they reach for more
and are in strive
with the laws and the ways of society
as everything centres just on I and me.
Gert Strydom, 18 july 2012
A Phosphorus projectile explodes
A Phosphorus projectile explodes
burns soldiers to particles of dust
when an enemy tank fires
hitting a Ratel armoured car in a bright glare,
burns hissing right through the blood of boys,
it becomes a terrible hour
where humanity goes totally dim.
Gert Strydom, 18 july 2012
Landmine
When the Buffel troop-carrier detonates a landmine
we see dark dots moving in the bush
and I break loose with the light machinegun
that the empty burning-hot caps hit against me
and as long as there is movement
on the other side of the dry riverbed
our fire is drawn
until everything is motionless.
With the smell of gunpowder hanging around us,
a skimpy goat-herdsman
crawls out from behind a giant ant hill
and cries about his dead goats.
Gert Strydom, 1 august 2012
When suddenly you came along (Trijan refrain)
When suddenly you came along
my whole life had changed,
unexpected my love was strong
life was rearranged
and butterflies dart everywhere
while some bees visit here and there
and butterflies
and butterflies
turn my stomach, I am without care.
When suddenly you came along
I did not know your name,
if to somebody you do belong,
but somehow our love came
your face had grace, your eyes did gleam
and your voice was like a stream
your face had grace,
your face had grace,
and you leapt into each dream.
When suddenly you came along
you were most beautiful
and with you I could not be wrong,
as my whole heart was full
of our great love on each new day
and my heart was happy and gay
of our great love,
of our great love
that not a thing could take away.
Gert Strydom, 21 september 2012
How do I tell you?
How do I tell you again and again
about how true my love is,
when continually I miss you when you are gone?
Sometimes love brings healing to pain
and these feelings I cannot stop
when even in sorrow they are present.
How do I tell you again and again
about how true my love is,
about how much I constantly yearn for you,
that our love brings a sparkle to each day
and is far stronger than any hindrance,
that there is more to love than just an oath?
How do I tell you again and again
about how true my love is?
Latest comments:
30 june 2025
violetta
Moja siostra jest teraz na Korfu :) piękny wiersz:)
30 june 2025
Niezmiernie cieszę się:)
30 june 2025
Tak i są przeróżne:)
30 june 2025
ajw
Uwielbiam tę ulotność chwili..
29 june 2025
Jaga
Strach na postrach, a dlaczego?/ wróbel na pszenicy
29 june 2025
sam53
na jednym drzewie bardzo słodkie, a te późniejsze
29 june 2025
Podziękowanie to mało, ale dziękuję :)))
29 june 2025
Wokół kręgu :)
29 june 2025
Słoneczniki już kwitną :)
29 june 2025
A czereśnie wyjątkowo słodkie tego lata.
29 june 2025
Przepiękny wiersz, miło się czyta Twoje romantyzmy.
29 june 2025
Taka upór jest w wierszu:)
30 june 2025
wiesiek
29 june 2025
wiesiek
27 june 2025
Jaga
26 june 2025
Atanazy Pernat
26 june 2025
Atanazy Pernat
23 june 2025
ajw
21 june 2025
Jaga
21 june 2025
wiesiek
18 june 2025
Jaga
16 june 2025
wiesiek