the way of an artist - wildetect style

the sad path way of the creative artist - slaying dragons on the windswept plains of megido - all the while sitting quietly at your drawing board, striking at foes within the mind. the pencil sketch , written outlet  a small fragment of the real imaginings. the real art stays entrapped in the confines of this space - lacking as always the ability to be interpreted by the conduit artists current skill.

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Halene.

i stopped in to a pub on my way back from hermanus one very rainy late Wednesday afternoon , early 2011. the proprietor and 2 patrons where several glasses ahead and the mood was very sombre. between arriving and reading the proprietors afrikaans poems out loud to the 3 gentlemen, was a very slow 2 beer conversation. my mother is from an afrikaans background and my dad is second generation South African dutch. we speak only English at home. so upon reading these powerful poems i was struck by the immense imagery the afrikaans language can conjure up in ones mind - especially haunting emotional feelings, for some unknown reason. i mentioned to the proprietor that afrikaans is by far the most intense and powerful  language to create poems in. he asked me why i had not given it a try - i mentioned , i felt it would be phony for me to dabble in this medium, that was not my own. his quick decisive response of - "rubbish, afrikaans poets write in english!" led me to a moment at another pub, deep in the karoo many years previous. when the glimpse of a look in the eye and the reaching for another glass, give you a split second of a life being lived.

waar kry jy hierdie man Halene?
Jy is getroud , maar nogsteeds alleen.
Jy soek vir iets wat is nie daar,
lewe is mooilik , hart is swaar.
onder stil water jy sal bly.
met hierdie man, jy het gekry.

QJD - wordsmid swaardvegter - 2011

the veil of mystery and emotion over this short afrikaans poem is for me, far more powerful  than the poem i wrote in english of the maidens stare 2009 - which was a far more haunting subject. this poem is what it is and its a sketch .

lesson for a daughter - 2011

to fall in love my sweet with words,
your love will be the tweet of birds.

to fall in love my dear with deeds,
your course is strong and  will succeed

quinton j damstra - nov 2011

Beware the friend

Whose happiness lies in your demise?
Whose tear filled eyes, coincide with your highs?
Whose lone sighs are heard when your ship flies,
Who is content when your dream skies, light dies?
Rather
Seek the friend who's intimate care, is a future vision and a dream to share.
To a road less travelled and yet to be opened gates, this will determine a true friendships fate.
A friend must be happy when you emit a smile and concerned when tears fill time awhile.
To find these friends is a lifelong quest, it’s of duty born and its your lifes behest.
2011 - wordsmith gladiator

beware the social creative trap - QJD - 2006 - WORDSMITH GLADIATOR

know all creative men and to whom it may concern.....

read this warning to avoid life's trap and learn!

at birth you're given seeds to facilitate your rise,

beware the Pip that can cause your creative demise!

your seeds may be beauty , royal blood , superior brain....

beware the Stella that cause you the greatest pain.

its words etched deep in this troublesome life.

for striving for social creative acceptance can cause unnecessary strife.

be contented with your station and creative class,

because "born rich snobs" can delight in making you the ass!

the birthright of royals and the social elite,

must not have you seeking approval at cold fowl feet.

be content and happy with your creative standing,

let those who hold the keys come to your respected landing.

because a humble lord will tip his hat to creative skill

whereas arrogance has you climbing a pseudo creative hill.

a hill that's height never reaches the end,

striving for its pinnacle will drive you round the bend!

my son , its better to be a creative working class hero,

than a wanna-be, social creative , high class zero.!!!

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for further information about QJD poems and the south african short story - please write to quinton@erxell.com for more information.

QJD