---
title: "South African Seasons"
description: "A poem by DAVID VAN WYK."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Maverick Life"
author: "David Van Wyk"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/davidvanwyk/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-03-22-south-african-seasons/"
published: "2013-03-22T02:52:33"
updated: "2013-03-22T02:52:34"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 101
---

# South African Seasons

> A poem by DAVID VAN WYK.

By David Van Wyk · Published 22 March 2013, 04:52 SAST · Updated 22 March 2013, 04:52 SAST

## Content

Winter launches covert operations

under cover of darkness

Summer responds with counterinsurgency strategies

a blazing hot midday sun

flushing out the cold

in whichever nooks or crannies

it might hide…

by sunset a bloody red sky in the west

evidence of fierce battle

Trees droop in mourning

summer wounded and bleeding

tears of leaves floating down

birds like refugees flock together, flee

before winter’s invading armies

*David van Wyk is a fifty-five year old freelance researcher who only works for progressive civil society organisations and movements all over Central and Southern Africa.. Find more of van Wyk’s writing at*[*http://periodiccomposition.wordpress.com/*](http://periodiccomposition.wordpress.com/)*.*