7th. It was a small select group of Poets at The Commons last night. I read three short love poems that follow
Late love
I miss you beyond imagining.
Not so much for the empty space
the cold forbidding place
on the other side of my bed.
But for what goes on now,
only in my head.
As I rage internally against
injustice,
as I assuage my angst,
in poetry.
You, who spent your life
close to the soil,
who from the Kalahari to Sudan
taught your fellow man,
how to get the best from earth
where, there is a dearth
of rain.
You, who had not a racial bone
in your slim athletic frame
are gone.
I have no one to talk with now
of the wicked ways of power
the weasel words of media,
and at the witching hour,
cry.
“When ends this pain?”
Sandy Wetton Cape Town, August 2004
STILL MOURNING YOU
There are still two things I cannot do
thirty months from loosing you.
I cannot read the poem I wrote
in eulogy.
I cannot even quote
it with impunity
from tears.
I can speak of you with friends,
but those lines, in rhyme it seems
need more time.
And that is fine, I’m
in no rush to share
away from the rarified air
of the funerary circle
the pyrrhic victory of having the last word.
The second thing is harder, I’ve not heard
those deep bowed tones we halloed,
notes Elgar exquisitely celloed,
since they cresendoed as your coffin
crossed the crematory curtain.
I reach for it and hear it in my head.
My fingers brush the case and race
away to choose a less contentious tune.
It hurts because I miss its haunting beauty,
Its achingly lovely, lyrical lilt.
Its melody had always rent my heart,
Hearing it now would tear me apart.
Sandy Wetton Cape Town, June 2005
RE-AWAKENING
Good-looking man, windblown
striding the dunes.
No dog or companion,
comfortably – alone.
Features, the rock-hewn
plains of the aesthetic.
Frame, long, broad, muscled
and athletic.
Eagle sharp eyes
clear blue
of the palest hue
like low sun winter skies
on just such a day.
And as I feast my gaze
his radiant smile, in passing
has me casting
about my mind, to find
a lable for the unfamiliar tingle.
The twinkle and the lightness in my step.
I roar back at the waves in chortling mirth
at the recognition of the re-birth, of lust,
for life and a passing Adonis.
The grieving’s done.
You have become
the memory of a joyous past.
In celebration of which,
love, may still be possible.
Sandy Wetton Cape Town,12th April 2006
10th. My daughter Marian, her partener Pete and my grandaughter Jessie arrived after lunch today.
We took Zara for a walk to stretch theirlegs after their long haul flight. Back homee we opened a bottle of fizz and had a light super before an early night.
11th. We had a full day starting with a good walk for Zara as we wouldn’t be able to take her with us as she would not be permitted in the Capw point Nature Reserve.
After breakfast we set off for the Penguin Sancturary which is just on the otherside of Simon’s Town so it involved a drive along the beach road. Unfortunately there was very low clound, right down on the water so we had no view. Once we got into the Cape Park Reserve later on we could take photos from above the cloud. It extended all the way across the Bay.
The Penguin Sanctuary was a big hit with the cute little African or kackass Penguins.
The Sanctuary occupies a good slice of beach and coastal land and is well managed
So we were able to watch them on land and in the water from the board walks and viewing platforms.
This of course kicked off the animal count, as in addition to the Penguins, there is a population of Hyrax also known commonly as Rock Rabbits or Dassies.
Once we moved into the Park the count climbed to include Zebra, Eland, Ostrige and Cape Fur Seals.
We stopped for lunch at the Resuaraunt below the lighthouse. The cloud had lifted so we had agreat view.
At the recommendation of our waitress we ordered the Seafood Platter for two for the four of us. This was great advise – it was HUGE!
After lunch we set of to wall up the hill to the lighthouse.
Pete and I left the two girls at the halfway station and were the oly ones to reach the top.
Looking over the edge, next land fall will be the South Pole over 6000K away
Once we all got back down we returned to the car and drove down to the Cape Point marker for a pyoyo opp!
Passing on the way a lovely secluded beach and wave fed waterfalls
After such a full day we were happy to have a light super and settle down to a game of Rummicub.
11th My visitors have gone off to Inverdoor Private Game Reserve for a 24 hour treat.
12th and 13th Marian, Pete and Jessie went to Inverdoorn Private Game Park for a short safari. They had a wonderful time.
14th. Thimgs went pear shaped as Paul who was in hospital had a very bad turn that had us all at his bedside.
15th. Off to the ever popular Kalk Bay fishing village.
with its quaint, cobbled allyways
and hidden parks, which point to a place that is lived in as opposed as just being a tourist trap.
There are however a good selection of boutique shops selling nice stuff and street setters selling curios, all of them hand made , to flowers, at this time of the year the amazing dinner plate sized proteas.
Then down to the Port
where we encountered fat, lazy Sea Lions and Less fat, lazy Cape Fur seals
The wonderfully colourful and seriously working boats
And here is some of the catch to prove it
Then down to the end of the port side arm for a photo opportunity by the port light.
16th All to soon it was time for them to fly home.
The last two weeks of October were fraught with full-on caring for sick son Paul. During this period the one salvation and source of light relief was walking Zara. The Radley Dog Park is colourful with wild flowers. They do not cut the grass in the spring till the flowers are over. This is so as to allow the birds and butterflies to take full advantage of their bounty.
10th. Jon, Nicki and Henry arrived elr afternoon nd once they were settled in we all took Zara for a walk along the vlei. Them hime for a duck dinner and an early night.
11th. Jon took me to Kingsbury Hospital this morning for a biopse. it did not take too long and was not a big deal. We went hone to pick the others up and then went to Kalk Bay for a mooch about and lunch at the Reef. The weather turned very overcast, cooler and drissly but we had a nice time non the less.
hidded gems and the harbour
Lunch at The Reef
