Two Together

Two Together

For many years I worked as a clerk,
in deceased estates under Roman Dutch Law.
If it were a single instance, I’d have noticed
and thought it mere coincidence,
but twice and it became remarkable;
commonplace and it uncovered the truth
that old Afrikaaner couples
died within days of each other.
When one departed, the other soon followed.
Farming marriages, they scraped a living
from the dry, red earth of Africa,
merged in simple, honest labour
came in time to interdependence,
two halves of the same whole,
a love undefeated by death.
My dearest wish is that someday,
I’ll be able to say with them,
Wag 'n bietjie, Sara, ek kom saam met jou.
Wait a bit, Sara, I'm coming with you.


Line Count: 19
For Write From The Heart - Poetry Contest, Round 40
Prompt: Write a poem about a couple that you admire.
Free Verse
Author’s Note: I know the prompt mentions only one couple but it spoke to me immediately of those couples from so long ago, all united in the same way by love and death. I thought I might be cheeky and get away with it…