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Karoo Days - Alexander May

“Karoo Days” is a collection of poetry that glimpses into life and experiences in that mystical place called the Karoo. From the harsh landscapes to the doggedness of man to survive in it, the poems in “Karoo Days” offer a unique perspective on the location and elements.

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Alexander May
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586 views21 pages

Karoo Days - Alexander May

“Karoo Days” is a collection of poetry that glimpses into life and experiences in that mystical place called the Karoo. From the harsh landscapes to the doggedness of man to survive in it, the poems in “Karoo Days” offer a unique perspective on the location and elements.

Uploaded by

Alexander May
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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KAROO DAYS

Alexander May

Copyright 2013, Alexander May

ISBN 978-0-620-58285-8
All rights reserved. This book contains material protected under international copyright laws and treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, by any information storage / retrieval system or otherwise, without prior written consent of the author.

Keep on feeling and writing. Etienne

CONTENTS
Graaff Reinet Late afternoon in my study Caledon Street Karoobossie Aberdeen Heatwave Sometimes Sunday afternoon Church Summer rains The flower Eerstefontein Pear tree lanes Reminder

PARLIAMENT STREET
Along the centuries-old Drostdy walls and sidewalks lined with cypresses

Scents of late orange blossoms envelops you Conjuring up foggy memories

The street burning your bare feet: An initiating walk-on-fire

LATE AFTERNOON IN MY STUDY


Late afternoon the Karoo-sun battles with trees and leaves to be noticed

The shadows dance and play on the ground like children

CALEDON STREET
Lines of trees haunt the street Standing ghosts of ancient giants, soldiers on the front line of an archaic battle

Guardians of mankind against the wrath of the sun

KAROOBOSSIE
Grey and commonplace spikey like a porcupine Life-giver to the Karoo and its inhabitants

ABERDEEN
Dusty streets lined with trees and dry water channels petrified veins in the scorching sun

The large stately homes hinting at a more favourable era Shells of buildings filled with memories of farmers markets and ghosts of Jewish pedlars

Monuments of rubble and decay to drunken street kids and tumbleweeds.

10

HEATWAVE
People shambling down the street reminding of sloths The merciless heat has broken their souls

Stoic phantoms lethargic and lazy begging for shade

11

SOMETIMES
Sometimes you wonder if God has forgotten that he made the Karoo

12

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS
In dusty Karoo towns Sunday afternoons are sentences of solitary confinement

Deserted streets closed doors and windows No sign of life

One wonders if the rapture has taken place

13

ABERDEEN CHURCH
The white tower reaches for the heavens a lighthouse in a motionless sea of grey

Beckoning the road-weary traveller like a palm tree at a desert oasis

While an ominous fence of black spears keeps the unwanted at bay

14

SUMMER RAIN
The purple and grey clouds come like giant airships baptizing the veld with millions of drops falling gently like feathers

The plants dance merrily earth sings a serenade of thanks

15

THE FLOWER
Walking on a venerable plain of Karoo mother and child admires landscapes and contrasts The boy sees a flower and picks it as a bounty

At home she places it in a vase but his dejected expression makes her question He replies, Maybe I should have left it it doesnt look nearly as pretty as it did in the veld.

16

EERSTEFONTEIN
Hiding in the shadows of volcanic fingers a fairy garden in the midst of arid desolation

A canopy of dense trees offers shelter and clemency

Where the earth incessantly spouts its mystic potion from hidden carafes

17

PEAR TREE LANES


The trees of purity all dressed in white Smiling like virginal brides

Once the wind has gone the ground is covered with flower-snow Filling the air with blissful scents

18

REMINDER
Heat radiates around you mirages shimmer like spectres

The grass lies singed trees bend over in defeat

The sun proves its point: It is the master And we are the serfs

19

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