DON BEUKES - POEMS

Don Beukes is originally from Cape Town, South Africa where he was born, raised and educated in the last two decades of Apartheid. He is a retired English and Geography teacher, now weaving words and have only been published since August 2015, writing about global issues affecting our global village and trying to adjust our moral compass. His work has appeared in Indiana Voice Journal, Prachya Review, Tuck Magazine, Dissident Voice, The Voices Project, GloMag and others and is to be a featured Contemporary World Poet in Asian Signature in the June 2016 issue. He has been published in two Anthologies by Creative Talents Unleashed; 'Shades of the Same Skin' and 'Poetic Melodies' and the forthcoming 'Selfhood' anthology by Transcendent Zero Press.

---

The 'Aapstrak' Quadrilogy

 
​
                                Gnilegnoj- Part One


​They call me Gnilegnoj
I’m aware my features disturb
you just cannot help yourself,
with breath gasping
hands frantically clasping
your whole being not grasping.
 
Your heart instantaneously a wreckage
battling to absorb the message
questioning my metamorphoses
was I constructed by dark forces?
My UFO eyes leaving you mesmerised
your thoughts a galactic black hole
clashing with your brainwashing -
You mock and chastise me
my traumatic existence not free
my uniqueness not celebrated -
My kind universally
heinously hated.
 
My forefathers a vicious circle,
My ruby fiery blue blood flow
gushing onto my biological glow
so there you are
liberated,
Here I am
their clown confiscated,
My kind intrusively stared at
like a monstrous pre-historic
carnivorous cat,
If you could only take the leap
momentarily locking
your prejudice streak,
You might look at me and see
your blinding reflection
wouldn’t you agree?
 
I am you,
They call me
Gnilegnoj.
 
 
 

                              Egnis Ednarg - Part Two
 

​​
As I retreat from yet
another mayhem mission
I fail to purify my veiled vision,
My position dictated
by royal commission
I yearn for a renewed identity -
Who is this murderous
malevolent entity?
 
My pulsating heart no more
a sacred sanctuary
I am all seeing
all knowing -
Oh, the curse of an anointed king
enforcing the reviled royal sting!
My stained ancient face splattered
with the spoils and coils
of senseless savage wars
not even I remember the cause,
Sheepishly abiding to our extinct
defunct porous laws
with its obvious catastrophic flaws.
 
My mission a clever ruse
showered in ruby rouge
if only to aimlessly amuse,
My intransigence
no coincidence,
I do what must be done
in order for us to thrive
stay alive,
Furiously battling to survive
as I gaze over
the cancerous carnage
I am overcome by echoing emotion
amidst the confused commotion,
Lamenting our rumination and ruination,
Clinging to a false legacy
overshadowed by a tainted tribal ecstasy.
 
I am known as Egnis Ednarg
I have served my time,
lying here
bleeding multi-coloured blood,
Our ephemeral state
not truly sublime.
 
 
 

                                  Volcon- Part Three


​​ 
My fiery baptised name is Volcon
I have beady piercing fire-rock
eyes like a falcon -
My spiral temper burns and
erupts like a gurgling volcano
if you dare to look at me
adjust your gawping gaze
or I might blind you at this stage.
 
My title was sparked by
the royal Egnis Ednarg,
What he does not suspect
is my steaming hatred
with immediate effect,
His heir is rumoured to
be announced for sure,
He is known to me and you
as that disgusting freak of nature
Gnilegnoj,
I dare not share my murderous thoughts
or even divulge a slight hint
what do you think?
 
The elders often meet in secret
sharing vicious tales
and prophesies most sacred
igniting my swirling atomic anger
confirming my secret
bloodline and crowning
as rightful future defender.
 
My dead-stare pearly midnight eyes
witness things you dare not believe,
Am I entitled to take
what is rightfully mine
disturb the current order sublime?
You will most probably never understand
my inner turmoil and heritage grand -
It drowns me in a bottomless hole
tears me apart
my heart dark charcoal,
Venomous rumours puncture my loyalty,
The time has come to
annihilate false royalty!
 
No time for regret the trap set
left with no choice
my challenging flag to hoist,
My jealousy no confusion
it feeds my chosen mission -
I dare not falter now
my crown awaits,
are you with me
to witness unimaginable
agonising anarchy?

​
                                  Gnilredou- Part Four
 


At first glance
you might think I'm
in a geriatric trance
or perhaps my war-torn physique
dilutes my proud nation's mystique -
I share a bloodline regal and rare
powerful warriors born from my lair.
 
I am Ouderling
fondly known as Gnilredou
great-grandfather to
the royal heir Gnilegnoj,
His brittle life in
imminent mortal danger
disturbingly not from
a foreign stranger,
My physical state
might just dictate
my ultimate foretold fate
although history dictates
it will suffer from
jealous related hate.
 
The elders have secretly gathered
to speak of an unknown dangerous heir
I supposedly fathered,
Known amongst us as the devious one
none other than that opportunist Volcon!
In hindsight I now regret sending my
grandchild to war -
He failed miserably
to settle that ancient score,
His defeat pitifully punctured
my tired heart,
I do not mourn the slain king
Egnis Ednarg.
 
Our legacy will echo eternal
our leadership to remain
purely paternal -
 
If you dare to look more closely
you might even possibly see
the omnipresent face of my ancestor,
Valiant true defender
proud protector,
The enigmatic and heroic
Rotsecna.