Today I saw a man
Today I saw a man,
probably a grandpa,
standing with a short shirt and pants
in the sun
while life passes him.
Somehow things went terribly wrong
and he was almost stripped naked
and burnt red
and while we talked
he left a deep impression
on me.
Other Afrikaners avoided him
like the plague
too scared
to also get something of his misery
or even to share
a rand or two with him.
l’Envoi
There were already clouds
hanging heavy and black
in the sky
and around the corner
where he sleeps at night
there was nowhere
to really find some shelter
against the cold, whether and wind
and for a moment
his pain blinded me
and I asked myself
why life devours some people
without cause
while robbers drive in expensive cars
and sometimes live in palaces
and still he witnessed
that the Lord is great
and still cares
but things were getting dismal.
[Reference: The South African monetary currency is the rand.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Misfortune Of A Aurora East Rand Mineworker
A 36 year old man works months without payment
at the Aurora East Rand gold mine
under the illusion from the black owners, promising
that salaries are following, but without receiving money.
In January he only receives ten percent of his salary
(which is just eighteen hundred rand)
while the company owns him for eighteen months
and the government does nothing against the black owners
he looks for other employment everywhere
but is not able to find anything else,
he is put out of his house and has to leave it
finding nowhere to go to
things get too much for the poor man,
he looses his cars, his furniture
and almost every thing that he possess,
in his thoughts he is at the edge of the abyss,
he does not know how to put food on the table,
tries to hang himself three times on one night
where his wife stops him just in time
and now she is really scared
that he will try to suicide again.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Escape
Out of these memories I have escaped
while you have walked out of my life
and I do not think back to it,
the apartment door slamming close with force.
I am the stranger walking in the streets,
the man that stays single,
whose hair flaps wild in the wind
where cars drive past in the rain.
I am the one who stands blinded
at the shore
who finds no answers,
who life passes by
even when he addresses God;
all the lovely things between you and me have now been destroyed.
[Reference: Ontvlugting (Escape) by Ingrid Jonker.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
In the city
As a child in the afternoons
I walked home
barefoot along a sand road
with a short sleeved shirt and short pants
and the red brown sand
burnt my feet
but the air was bright blue,
I smelled the Lucerne of the field,
sometimes took a short cut through the stream,
birdcalls were like music
and the whole world belonged to me
and in everything
I could see the Lord’s works
and knew that I was serving
a loving Father.
l’Envoi
Now I walk with hand made shoes
in a designer suit
on concrete streets
from my car to the lift
then on thick carpets
to my office
and in the background
I can hear the air conditioner
and somewhere life
has lost its soul.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Regrets
I have done things wrong,
I will never forget.
But I cannot live,
A life of regret.
I am not a bad person.
But I have done bad things.
When a guitar gets broken,
You can change it's strings.
Life can be a song.
You can choose to dance.
Or you can sit in a corner.
And not take a chance.
It can be an adventure.
It can just be mundane.
You can dress it all up.
Or just leave it plain.
You can live for the moment.
You can live in the past.
You can live for tomorrow.
Or all you've amassed.
You can live for it's gifts.
You can live for it's treasures.
You can live for it's pain.
Or live for it's pleasures.
You can live it for Jesus.
Or live it for you.
You can live it for everyone.
Or just for a few.
And when it all,
Comes to an end.
Will you feel it's been true?
Or just been pretend.
Will you feel like you gave it,
Gave it your best.
Or did just what you had to.
Like all of the rest.
Did you make a difference?
Or did you blend in.
Did you look forward to where you were going?
Or stuck where you'd been?
Did you take life by the horns?
Or did it take you?
When things got real tough?
Just what did you do?
Did you sit in a corner?
Did you mope, did you cry?
Did you simply give up?
Did part of you die?
Did you fight the good fight?
Did you give it your best?
Did you go through your journey?
And complete your quest.
So live for the moment.
And never forget.
Don't let life shape you.
By what you regret.
poem by Ryan Lee Morris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Blinded
Just an old friend coming over
Now to visit you and
That's what I've become
I let myself in
Though I know I'm not supposed to but
I never know when I'm done
And I see you fogging up the mirror
Vapor around your body glistens in the shower
And I wanna stay right here
And go down on you for an hour
Or stay and let the day just fade away
In a wild dedication
Take the moment of hope
And let it run
Never look back
At all the damage we have done now
To each other
To each other
To each other
But when I see you
It's like I'm staring down the sun
And I'm blinded
There's nothing left to do
and still I see you
I never believe that things that they happen for a reason
And they never go as planned
I wanted to thank you for a vision that was lost that you returned
But you're past where you understand
Now her appetite is blown
Little else is known
'cept she's a little angry
Grabs a towel, looks away
The heat fades with the day
And I fall down on what to say
oh something clean, let me be clever
Hey oh well, whatever
But that's not what I mean
Where we're been has left us burnt still
I wont turn now from a fight
You know I'll never win
cos when I see you
you know all the things I've done
and I am blinded
Like I'm staring down the sun
When I see you
When I see you
When I see you
It's like I'm staring down the sun
Yeah!
(Hey! I'm Blinded!)
Time it passes and it tells us what we're left with
We become the things we do
Me, I'm a fool spent from defiance, yeah you got me but
I didn't give up on you
But the rest is not a t-shirt or a swan song, no
Heat is born again and
It's not easy being me
When I can't promise I will mend
Or bend when you believe
That we are fixed now from our birth
And I've just fallen back to earth
Still you know I'll try again
Cause I believe that we are lucky
We are golden
We have stolen manners in the days when we were one
So when I see you
In spite of all that we've become
I'm still blinded
But I'm still staring down the sun
When I see you
When I see you
When I see you
When I see you
Oh yeah
I'm still staring down the sun
Oh yeah
I'm still staring down the sun
Oh yeah
Well I'm still staring down the sun
I'm blinded
When I see you
song performed by by Third Eye Blind
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
It's The Little Things
You can burn my house
You can cut my hair
You can make me wrestle naked
With a grizzly bear
You can poison my cat
Baby I don't care
But if you talk in the movies
I'll kill you right there
It's the little things
It's just the little things
Aw it's the little things
It's just the little things
Yeah it's the little things
That drive me wild
I'm like a mad dog
I'm on a short leash
I'm on a tight rope
Hanging by a thread
I'm on some thin ice
You push me too far
Welcome to my nightmare
No more Mr. Nice Guy
You can steal my car
And drive it into the lake
You can stick me in the oven
And put it on bake
You could throw a big brick
Through my window pane
But if I ever hear you ask me
How I got my name
It's the little things
It's just the little things
Aw it's the little things
It's just the little things
Yeah it's the little things
That drive me wild
I'm like a mad dog
I'm on a short leash
I'm on a tight rope
Hanging by a thread
I'm on some thin ice
You push me too far
Welcome to my nightmare
No more Mr. Nice Guy
I've done it all
I mean I been everywhere
I've been beaten
I been stabbed
I been hung
I been burried alive
And I can deal with that
But its the little things
I've done it all
I mean I been everywhere
I've been beaten
I been stabbed
I been hung
I been burried alive
And I can deal with that
Cuz its the little things
It's the little things
It's just the little things
Yeah it's the little things
Just the little things
Aw just the little things
That drive me wild
I'm like a mad dog
I'm on a short leash
I'm on a tight rope
Hanging by a thread
I'm on some thin ice
You push me too far
I'm just a psycho
Pathic psycho
Pathic
I'm like a mad dog
I'm on a short leash
I'm on a tight rope
Hanging by a thread
I'm on some thin ice
You push me too far
Welcome to my nightmare
No more Mr. Nice Guy
It's just the little things
Aw it's the little things
It's just the little things
song performed by by Alice Cooper from Brutal Planet
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Butterfly
butterfly
I stopped to look at a butterfly-then it flew away.
Yet! -left me with an impression.
With me it will always stay.
Its wings were a beautiful brown-with polka dots you see.
I had wanted to grab it-but I knew it had to be free.
They only have a short life span
But in their life -they live an eternity.
They have no worries or cares-but in their life they share
All the joys of yesteryear…
If man could be as a butterfly-and enjoy and share life.
we would not have to go through, all our struggles and strife.
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Without a car in Pretoria
There are few things that bother as much
as to look for you car
and almost to count the other car’s,
when you come round a corner
and to be without a car in Pretoria
and to know the fear
that it is stolen.
There are fewer things that bother as much
as when two of your cars get stolen
and something is wrong with the insurance of both
and to be without any car in Pretoria
and to tell everyone that you call
of your predicament
and no Police ever being able to find any car
and every similar car that drives by
looks to you like the stolen one
and the robbers are now much better off than you.
There are few things that bother as much
as to walk
and stand with a hand stretched out
and the worst is to tell other people
and to be without a car in Pretoria
and to read comprehension in their eyes.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
What god do they serve?
There are people that say
that those that are sick,
wretched and poor
live outside the will of God
and that their sins
brings them there.
What about a two-year-old child
that die in terrible pain
from cancer,
the upright person
that gives his life for others
and do they also
go straight to the place of destruction?
What god does just look after the rich,
the healthy, clever people
and those that are born
with the golden spoon
and live in palaces
and do not concern themselves with others?
l’Envoi
Great Lord, I just wonder
what god do they serve
when mine see
the two pennies of a poor woman,
is the great king of the universe
and in a manger
as a human
saw first light,
visited the whore
and tax collector
and paid the price
for the sins of ungrateful impudent people
and still said:
“Father forgive them,
for they do not know what they are doing.”
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Control
I have none,
So it's time to let it go.
It makes life unmanageable,
More than you know.
People are hurtful,
Their opinions cause pain.
Making them something they're not.
Will drive you insane.
So just let things be,
Let them lie where they may.
Change just what you can.
And live day to day.
You may disagree,
With what others do think.
But trying to change them,
Brings you to the brink.
Helping's not changing,
But learning to serve,
Makes others rethink things,
And throws them a curve.
They may look at things different.
Or still maybe the same.
They will make their mistakes,
And have themselves to blame.
So please heed this advise.
This advise that I give.
It may not make things better.
But you'll learn how to live.
To live life on life's terms,
Leave the past in the past.
Life life for today,
Cause it goes by so fast.
poem by Ryan Lee Morris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
On the highway
I who have traded
open spaces, fields
and the azure sky
for crowded pavements
and neon lights
find my place
to meet the Lord
on the dangerous road.
I have found the sapphire sky,
the breath of wind,
the white-hot sun
on lanes packed with cars,
busses and trucks
of every shape and size.
Every thing flashes by
as my motorbike catches speed
and accelerates
and men in cars sit irritated
stuck in rows of traffic
and I bob and weave by
while life throbs everywhere
and death grasp at my heels,
l’Envoi
I feel raw power
throbbing below me
and experience the majesty
of wind, sun, sky
and the countryside
that rush by
and life is great
and in silence
I pray to the Creator
and when it rains
it humbles me
and I slow down
and am cold and wet
and know that I am
just mere man.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Live To Love Another Day
Lord I fell for her smile
And she loved me for a while
Then she said good-bye gotta go
Left me standing on the side of the road
Now she's gone and I'm a memory in her past
And the long and short of it some things never last
Chorus:
Oh because summers come, summers go
I'll keep walking down this road
It's alright and it's okay
I'll live to love another day
I'll live to love another day
Lord I'm out here again
With my back to the wind
The warm sun that's sinking low
Is gonna leave me out in the cold
But the long and short of it some things never last
And if that goes for the good
It must go for the bad
(REPEAT CHORUS)
If I fall down
I'm not ashamed
I always get back up again
But I'll be fine 'till the right one comes to save me, save me, save me
Lord I fell for her smile
And she loved me for a while
And someday she's gonna wish
She hadn't left me here like this
(REPEAT CHOURUS)
I'll live to love another day
I'll live to love another day
I'll live to love another day
song performed by by Keith Urban
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Rinkhals thoughts
I sail to wherever I want to be,
sometimes lie stretched out
in the hot African sun
always inspecting the air
with my forked tongue
sensing with my black shiny eyes
if there’s movement anywhere,
something to spray with my deadly spit
a enemy to strike out at
before it can squash me
and forever I am free
to hit at the heel
to find my own way
through the undergrowth,
to prey whenever I want
with a deadly flash,
to end life, I am created for it
and nothing but death stops me
and sometimes you will find
where I have been
by the marks on the sand,
the remains of my skin
or victims that I have left
or turned right over
poising as if dead,
waiting on the right moment
to come to life, to hit with great speed.
[Reference: Rinkhals: Ring necked African spitting cobra.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
One Day at a Time
We need to take our eyes off us, and in the Lord put our trust,
Our vision can be small indeed, focusing just on present need.
But, the Lord who’s over all, takes care of needs big and small,
As He has and He always will, care for His own, so just be still.
The Lord truly does so much more, for all of those He cares for,
Far beyond what we can see, as He shepherds them to Eternity.
Guiding them along every path, this as they avoid unseen wrath,
And other problems avoided by, God, when we don’t know why.
We’ve been told to live for today, leaning on God along the way,
Not looking at problems tomorrow, only to fill hearts with sorrow,
For believers, it is God’s design, for us to live one day at a time,
And if you try it, you shall find, God will give you peace of mind.
What is to be is know by God, as He leads us with staff and rod,
Guiding His own on paths unknown, as He leads us safely home.
Today we are told not to borrow, any cares at all from tomorrow,
As today alone will have enough, of all those cares we speak of.
In the Lord we should always rest, no matter what the trial or test,
On any path that you need to take, you, the Lord will not forsake,
But, it’s His own who forsake Him, when worry leads cares to sin,
So, be still and rest in Christ, and God’s Peace, shall fill your life.
(Copyright ©09/2008)
Midnight Sun
They say you know your way around
They say you are a man of the world
You say she is a new kid in town
You think shes just another girl
You get suspicious that something is wrong
No explanation why it lasts so long
And by the look on your face, everybody knows
You cant deny that you feel exposed
You can feel the heat when the night is gone
You been burnt by the midnight sun
When you look for relief but you cant find none
You been burnt by the midnight sun
Like a train running down the track
Its too late, things are out of control
Theres no way she can take you back
Theres no release for the brand on your soul
You never noticed the touch of her hand
You messed around with things
You dont understand
Now you sit in darkness while a new day dies
Her face is shining when you close your eyes
When you feel the heat when the light is gone
You been burnt by the midnight sun
When you look for relief but you cant find none
You been burnt by the midnight sun
I know the feeling, you wish youd been warned
Now you and I are brothers in arms
cause I know the pain cause I know her kind
One left a feeling burning in my mind
And you feel the heat when the night is gone
I been burnt by the midnight sun
And I look for relief but I cant find none
I been burnt by the midnight sun
I can feel the heat when the light is gone
I been burnt by the midnight sun
And I look for relief but I cant find none
I been burnt by the midnight sun
song performed by by Todd Rundgren
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Not Just When
Lord I want You
In my life
Not just when I need You
Lord I want You
In my life
Not just when I am confused
Not just when I am crying
Not just when I feel like
I am dying
Not just when I feel I am all alone
Not just when my life is going wrong
Lord I want You in my life
For always
When things are going right
To share my happiness
To share my children
To share my family
To share my friends
To share my victories
To share my love
To share my money
So when I feel the need
To call on you every now and then
You will know that it's coming
From a friend! ! ! ! ! !
poem by Tameeka Smith
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The World of Chaos
When things don't happen as we want in life,
Must we then fret and fume and worry much?
When things go wrong, must we complain to God?
Just think about those more unfortunate!
Our earthly life has ups and downs for all;
The God of fairness cares for all creatures;
But man has made the earth sadder to live;
Why blame the God of goodness for our strife?
Millions of people can't afford one meal;
Many live shelterless and half-naked;
The middle class is burdened by much tax;
Elected leaders enjoy power and pelf.
The common man in misery is found;
Heinous crimes keep mounting high every day;
Basic amenities are denied to most;
If Nature works untimely, all is lost!
And man forgets the God who provides him;
He does not thank the Giver for His grace;
Men think they achieve things by own efforts;
Their hearts seek God when troubles afflict them!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 9-9-2012
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Grandpa Told Me So
(mark alan springer/james dean hicks)
If you dont get in the water youre never gonna learn to swim
He said a snake is just as scared of you as you are of him
He could tell by the moon when the fish would bite
Seems there was nothing that he didnt know
And as a kid I believed cause grandpa told me so
He talked daddy into letting me have my first car
I thought I was really something til becky thompson broke my heart
That first taste of love really did me in
Getting over her slow
And I knew someday I would cause grandpa told me so
He said life is made for you to live
The best love is the love that you give
Therell be times when you wanna hold on but you gotta let go
And I live by those words cause grandpa told me so
I promised him I wouldnt cry when it was his time to leave
Thats the only promise I made him I couldnt keep
He smiled from his bed and said well meet again
Somewhere down the road
And I believe cause grandpa told me so
He said life is made for you to live
The best love is the love that you give
Therell be times when you wanna hold on but you gotta let go
And I live by those words cause grandpa told me so
He said life is made for you to live
The best love is the love that you give
Therell be times when you wanna hold on but you gotta let go
And I live by those words cause grandpa told me so
Yeah and I still believe
Grandpa told me so
Grandpa told me so
I still believe
Grandpa told me so
I still believe...
song performed by by Kenny Chesney
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Private Life
This is my private life
I have no friends to fear
Ive got no problems no cross to bear
If you can find me
Come and get me out of here
Chorus
This is my private life
This is my private life
This is my private life . . .
These are my private things
There they are against the wall
The dirty pictures, religious objects
These are my private things
Come and get them out of here
This is my private bed
This is where I lie at night
Staring at a light bulb hanging on the ceiling
Waiting for a dream to
Come and get me out of here
Bridge
Here in my humble room at night
I often wonder what goes on out there
What makes them runs o scared
I often stare at the people passing by
But they cant see me thru my window shades
Just like Im not even there
Chorus
This is my private life
This is my private life
This is my private life
Theres something dangerous I like
This is my private life
I know my problems arent your fault
What I really want to know
Has it always been this way
This is my private life
This is my private life
This is my private life
Come and get me out of here
song performed by by Oingo Boingo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Disillusionment
Outside the wild stormy wind blows
and it's full of sorrow as if it cannot find any comfort,
in this winter branches are stripped from trees,
and I am blinded, are not able to find hope;
too late I had to learn that love is cruel,
for this great pain there is no forgiveness.
With a kind of innocence I loved you
from the moment that our relationship started
but your treason comes as my greatest fear,
it sounds absurd that there can be pleasure in pain,
and every between us dies with your confession,
for this great pain there is no forgiveness.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!