POETRY -Inspired by Homeland
HOMELAND
Where the song of the Beloved came through misty morn' of time
- where the breath of the Creator all imbued with life and wonder joined the realm of sky and mountain by the sacred bond of Thyne...
--- there amongst the hills and meadows, rolling woodlands tall and stately lies my homeland sweetest earth..
.... came to life from yonder being in the time of distant dreaming ...
nowhere else shall be my hearth Little valley... green and tranquil, fairest jewel of the lea--- ever singing 'tween the mountains, song of the Eternal Balance.
timeless chant of joyful being Whisp'ring raindrops soft caressing many springs enchanted murmur
-- gaily bubbling mountainstreams thundering through rocky gorges over boulders mossbedecked... gurgling -- hissing
--- tumbling downwards in a veil of falling water, into pools of rising vapour.. gateways to dimensions yonder
-- to the life as yet unseen
--- song of praise and exultation, place of manchilds' pilgrimage.
PEACEFUL MORNING
-- child of dawn - woke from slumber early rising do behold this wondrous scene ever new - serene resplendent -- air so fresh and iridescent full of fragrant jasmine blossoms .. countless spheres of sparkling dew lace the spider's tiny web, and the birds' exultant chorus heralding the waking sun my dear sister of the Heavens of the splendours' farthest reaches ..had no words when all began... Grove of bamboo gift of heaven, where through canes so green and slender fluting spears of amber light -- winds my pathway to the river where by gentle, lapping water I AM ONE WITH ALL CREATION my true being's magic site...
Gerhard 1985
O’ MY RIVER
my dear brother,
calling out with many voices
clear and laughing do I hear them,
feel its flow of crystal water,
hemmed by willows and by cedars,
by the she-oaks straight and tall --
and through rising mists of dawn
drifts the magpie’s fluting call...
In the golden light of morn’
lies the beach so lone and sleepy
-- all imbued with sounds of children..
gay and happy ring their voices,
melodies of innocence...
Placid pools so wistful smiling,
where through mirror clear and flawless
jumps the mullet for the fly..
Shallow reaches ---
still and languid,
strewn with rocks and bobbing branches,
lonely wails the dingo’s cry..
Quiet eddies
deep and lazy --
haunts for catfish, perch and eel
under banks so skilful hidden
burrows platypus with zeal..
Scattered leaves so joyful playing,
floating driftwood
tossing
teasing
rolling gaily in their dance
running swiftly
rising waters
raging cascades over bridges,
into whirlpools' ceaseless trance..
Angry roar with floods of vengeance,
hasten forward,
gushing
spouting
ever faster -- ever louder
in a frenzy white and screaming,
in a torrent brown and wild --
ever deeper -- ever wilder
in a shouting fearful laughter
in a furious crescendo
roams this untamed raving child...
O’ MY RIVER
my dear river..
homewards bound and drawing closer
reach its destiny the ocean,
whence it came in dawn of time,
to fulfill and close the circle -
when the river, sea and rain flow in Oneness -
in Unison
the Creator's song, divine...
Gerhard 1985
From Pyramid Hill: 1989
The gentle roar of the waterfalls
The songbird calls
In the valley
The tall white trees
Sunflowers at ease
Are all well pleased
In our valley
The cows all graze
As I just gaze
At the misty haze
On the scarp
Of all that’s felt and heard and seen
Divine harmony
Fills my heart
The midday heat
But cool and sweet
By the river
The kids at play
On a lazy day
Let’s float away
Down the river
The lizards lounge
On the logs that floundered
Many floods ago
The Ancient peace
And stillness
Is the wisdom
That they know
For a busy day
All work no play
In the city
The cars, the stores
The tourist boors
The list of chores
Not very pretty
But I’ll recall
The waterfalls
At the place I call
My home
The mountains peace
And the finches’ tweets
Are all part of me
In my soul
The gentle roar of the waterfalls
The songbird calls
In the valley
The tall white trees
Sunflowers at ease
Are all well pleased
In our valley
The cows still graze
As I just gaze
At the misty haze
On the scarp
Of all that’s felt and heard and seen
Divine harmony
Fills my heart
Martin
In the hills behind the village
stands the forest dense and tall,
a cathedral high and mystic,
which surrounds a glade so peaceful,
song of heaven
Fairy Glen..
where through splaying crystal light
weaves a melody so sweet,
all pervading
all transcending
joyful plays the flute of PAN
-- - my dear brother and companion
will you tell me of your secrets,
of your haunts and hidden places
of the realm of fawn and fairy,
of the reaches never seen,
till the heart of mankind opens -
pure its mind and innocent,
for the presence of the INMOST
-- heart of nature -
so pristine.. .Gerhard
