Poetry

Vaulted cathedral Gum trees interlinked o'erhead Pied crows circle round (Included in MH2)

Raindrops on fencing Like beads on abacus board Pendulant waiting [Included in MH2]

Harsh calls sound across veld Grey hadedas on the wing Great beasts of the air [Included in MH2]

Snake handler next door Sign on gate -- beware inmates -- People worse than snakes

Trees take shape in mist Like clouds do in scudding sky Beckoning inwards [Included in MH2]   

Heat haze envelops Land -- roads quiver in spasms Potholes gather dust [Included in HM2]

The world is on fire Rhodes Memorial and UCT Aflame -- Armageddon

 Animosity thrives Where there is little conviction That the right will win [Included in MH2]

Heat beats down on land Air quivers mirage-like -- thirst Of both plant and beast [Included in MH2]

Hogging fans in summer Tantamount to hoarding playthings In early childhood [Included in MH2]

Neighbourhood watch rules Supreme where fear abounds -- curse Of the present age [Included in MH2]

Prickly pear hair-styled cat Bedaubed with dog saliva Dearly loved by Splay [Included in MH2]

Walking out the door Never solved any problems Stay and speak it out [Included in MH2]

Night winds start to rise Cooling down heat of the day Blessed desert respite [Included in MH2]

Stalactites melting Inside my head -- Eustachian tubes Unblocked at last -- ease [Included in MH2]

Snails copulating Entwined after rain -- sluggish No longer -- intent [Included in MH2]

Water-foundried fish Silver arc of strength and power Back arched with richness [Included in MH2]

Skittering down street Guinea fowl hurtle feedwards Roadkill potential [Included in MH2]

Wayside pools -- at peace In the early morning light Waiting on troubled day [Included in MH2]

Pinkish patterned flocks Of migrant flamingos Bound for farther north [Included in MH2]

Porcupine quivered Flowered restio endings Shish kebab skewered [Included in MH2]

Paths intertwine veld Crossing and recrossing like Tangled skeins of wool [Included in MH2]

Botswana -- recall Dry river beds, scrubby Undergrowth -- desert [Included in MH2]

Primeval ferns grow Lurking in garden shadows Jungle undertones [Included in MH2]

Darker than dark is night Storm-tossed clouds scud overhead Creatures small and young huddle Together like the living dead [Included in MH2]

Aloes emerging Round mother plant like bomas Circling chief's dwelling [Included in MH2]

Obscuring farmlands Mist settles on leafed bushes -- Glistening jewels  [Included in MH2]

Gathered up in pan 'Midst bougainvillea bracts Pink-tinged tattered wings [Included in MH2]

Geese flying overhead In near-perfect formation -- Bomber squad on patrol [Included in MH2]

Caterpillar shape Two moths linked like rail engines Mating on a branch [Included in MH2]

Recall seeing snake Burrowing into mole runs Adept snout of death [Included in MH2]

Searing hurt and pain Accompanies disdain -- mutes Responses to same [Included in MH2] 

Guilt over failings Inability to respond Appropriately [Included in MH2]

Christ's forehead bedewed With sweat below crown of thorns Water droplets on scrub [Included in MH2]

Faulty guttering Water pouring in windows Workmanship paltry [Included in MH2]

Splay snoring quietly Rain dripping incessantly Sounds of early morn [Included in MH2]

Shivering joints and pains Onset of old age -- little To anticipate [Included in MH2]

Burrowed out tunnels Quicksand shoe and boot sinkers Moles' underground homes [Included in MH2]

Anointing of mole Hills with canine urea Blessing for the dead [Included in MH2] 

Land dispossession Heartless robbing the hearted Heavens cry justice [Included in MH2]

On tightrope wire high Pied crow struts and preens -- makes world Theatre of the air [Included in MH2]

Wings scrabble Frantically at window Dark clamour of death [Included in MH2]

Suicide motive Of moths -- perishing slowly At own last wingbeat [Included in MH2]

Moths flutter in The open window round dark Struggling to find way Back to the light [Included in MH2]

Hottentots Holland Flagship of mountain buttress In the Western Cape

As flames envelop UCT's buildings, one's heart Sinks -- ruin of dreams [Included in MH2]

Pavement writer I Not for the esoteric -- Trampled down by feet [Included in MH2]

You call me lover Yet what you do Robs me of all loveliness And of all potential for good [Included in MH2]

Your fear is tantamount To poison, my dearest friend And deepest enemy Robbing me of self and livelihood Stealing away my self-control Till I am left Powerless and shaking Impotent 

You tear my heart out Bit by bit -- robbing me of mine Sundering me from wit [Included in MH2]

Moth flutters on ground Death throes amid tattered wings Beauty fading fast [Included in MH2]

Pied crows call from trees Sounds of dyspeptic bullfrogs Emerging from throats

Building on the go Heaps of sand for guinea fowl Atop which to strut

 You destroy sanctity Of peace of mind -- let all fear Manner of passing

Tumbledown windows And broken doors -- houses left Vacant by all

Humiliation Of hearing partner betray Self to enemy

Pied crows in the trees Croaking their gratitude Repast spread below

Gathered at your feet Like quiescent willing lambs Led to the slaughter 

Saddled tortoises Bestride the region -- outback Territory this

Perambulating Rocks of the West Coast inland Lichen-covered mounds

 Anger simmering Beneath surface -- tsunami Slow in the making

My dog maternal Who would have guessed? -- boisterous hoyden Just out to impress

High-stepping strutters Of the arid plains -- lusting For life and adventure

Angulate tortoise Patterned like checkerboard On standby for play

Heads bowed in sorrow At the prince consort's passing Grief unremitting

Wound tight around with Serpentine bands -- death free Markings dominant

Parrot-beaked they -- Jaws sufficient for cracking Open coconuts

Cat with Smaug complex Hobbit-faced fur bundle Ensconced atop bag

Seaweed riempies bound Coiled and sprung like aged, spent Rawhide pieces of thong

 Kelp -- dried out on sand Blowflied and maggotty Yet rich in the earth

Which creatures of myth And mystery do we have here Inhabiting our velds and vleis Surely no water sprite or rustic charm Making the rocks and chasms heave With fetid breath and far-reaching glare

 Overcast autumn days Awaiting the winter rains Dreamy solitude

Marching to and fro In shallows by the bank On sentry duty

Stretched-out long-necked storks Soaring over the shallows Gliding off to war

Small slabs turned on sides Proof of hobos sleeping rough On banks of river

Pacing up and down Like a prisoner on death row Canine poop patrol

Paraphernalia Of drug-taking litters the veld Devoid of all dreams

Snow on the mountains Far off means icy cold here Frozen hands in mitts 

Trees on horizon Endemic and exotic Rest for man and beast

Bulrushes cloak banks In sheaths of rustling wonder Biblical import

Crows flying overhead On their way to feeding grounds -- Resolute and brave

Gaping holes in walls Zinc roofing rusted away Sun glares down -- disdain 

Cactus survivor Keeper of the little ones Supremely your own

Promoted Velddrif Business interests rule Prejudices clear 

Rain drips incessantly Running in rivulets down drains Wintry afternoon

Picturesque scene of Trees and fields brought by tramp To my front door -- grace

 For making me laugh When most inclined to despair My sweet protector

 Summoned to your High court of local justice Which hand will you crush?