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669 · Mar 2021
Vanitas
Kris Pretorius Mar 2021
A westbound fog steadily showing its face,
as the sun hides its own.
On a bus bound for somewhere far from here,
an unknown destination far away from home.

Through every savanna, through every green field,
through every soggy
marshland with mud sticking to the heels.

It seems that everywhere I go,
whether it be high or low, far or near
time never seems to slow
and she’s never really here.

With every shrinking cigarette,
each separate dying ember,
with each slow wilting flower,
with each breath, I surrender.

Thoughts of the living traded in for the dead.
“Vanitas” or such, I believe men once said.
644 · Sep 2021
drowsy days after
Kris Pretorius Sep 2021
why did we cry when the **** kicked in?
its like we’ve always been
a black and white frame from a love filled scene,
or a joy filled dream

but when the morning birds sang we found ourselves not in the clouds
rather bound to the ground

the joy from the night before paved the way
for a bleaker reality,
one in which we could not see,
the subtle, right in front us,
everyday beauty
488 · Nov 2021
ozymandias
Kris Pretorius Nov 2021
a decrepit heart, but smiling still
just know i love you, and i always will

yet nothing here said could make you stay
the lone and level sands stretch far away
437 · Nov 2022
another love
Kris Pretorius Nov 2022
the sunset over the atlantic
is truly a sight to see
the vast and level water
and the weak yet present breeze

the slowly sinking sun
like a steadily drowning ember
marked the end of the chapter
of a day i’d rather not remember

was it his physique or his hair
or his words or his touch
was it worth ending our love
for as little as such

the happy couples passing by
they haven’t got a notion
at this beautiful cold beach
my tears became an ocean
407 · Mar 2022
growth
Kris Pretorius Mar 2022
beauty is still to be found in the bent double tulip,
in the storm-torn remains of a once proudly standing flower,
its colors remain vivid and bright.

it takes both strength and perseverance to face the raging winds,
to stand tall, to not cower
under circumstances laden with plight.

and whilst we sometimes get knocked down,
and get hit with the heaviest of loads,
the tulip bulb remains in the ground,
and next spring, will be ready to grow.
383 · Dec 2021
so one-sided
Kris Pretorius Dec 2021
the momentary existence
of envisioned futures
oh, time really is a thief

abruptly stolen
and crumbled down
to be replaced with grief

though my strength lies in perseverance
and keeping my head up high
and the knowledge that failure only comes forth
from those who dare to try
377 · Jul 2021
time
Kris Pretorius Jul 2021
what is time
but a ****** up concept we all get caught up in
a foolish game no one ever seems to win

see , i don’t need einstein to tell me that time is relative
a second of staring into your eyes feels like  a lifetime of love and fulfillment

and if time is all we have, i’m going to relish every single moment
live a life of commitment
and whether it be heartbreak or old age that separates our paths
ill know there was a time in which i loved, and love, i still do
Kris Pretorius Jan 2022
i have spent too many lifetimes under the moon to fear the darkness of night

i have thought of you too much
to suddenly lose you out of sight

see, i have dreamt of you so much
that i lost touch with what is real

loved with the passion of a raging fire
that even the darkest nights can’t conceal


unfortunately the sun must rise
and we should do the same
for to live the dream of love and joy
is like fire in the rain
355 · Jul 2022
Cygnus
Kris Pretorius Jul 2022
I smelt your sweet scent whilst traveling home,
And got overwhelmed by my emotions,
Remembering all we said and done,
My tears became an ocean.

Though the sea of time has drifted us apart,
And others than I have given you love,
Know that ever here that’s left in me,
Is yours just as it was.
345 · Mar 2021
Nameless here forevermore
Kris Pretorius Mar 2021
Lately we’ve been growing distant,
as my vision’s been growing blue.
It seems the harder I hold on,
the more I lose sight of you.

But don’t let that distance turn into doubt,
cause if this is merely a sample of heartbreak,
I don’t want to know what the whole thing’s about.

Know that I’ve had no doubt on my mind.
Every time you walk into the room, I think of the beautiful early bird sitting lonely in that lecture hall.
A memory I can still distinctly recall.

A memory I’ve been falling back to quite a lot these past few days.
One that prevents me from wandering off and going astray.

And I realize these words might be cringe, but please know that they’re true.

After every little fight we have,
I’m still in love with you.
340 · Jan 2019
Scars
Kris Pretorius Jan 2019
Each scar has a tale
A story to bestow
A battle, bravely fought and won
A victory, even though

Some have too many scars to hide
And some too few to know
336 · Jun 2020
ek glo nie
Kris Pretorius Jun 2020
ek glo nie,
maar vanaand bid ek,
nie vir wat of wie,
maar vir wat ooit was,
vir my onskuldige jeug,
toe ek plesier kon haal uit pakkies swiets, toe ek nie geweet het van oud word nie,

ek glo nie,
maar vanaand is ek op my knieë,
want iewers het ek my onskuld verloor,
my plesier word nie meer geput uit sondag oggend cartoons,
of met vriende speel na school,
met vrees in my hart sluit ek my oë,
en verdwaal in hierdie jongere drome,

vanaand is daar geen hallelujahs,
en geen amens
312 · Oct 2022
dismal dawn
Kris Pretorius Oct 2022
my hearts as black as night
hallow and mistreated

and though i act alright
i feel as if i need it

your love, like a wildfire
filled me with endless desire
and died just as swiftly
after having burned right through me

but still these dark nights
harbor thousands of little lights

my hope reflected in the stars at dawn
but when i’m finally sober they’ll be gone
293 · Dec 2020
unconditional
Kris Pretorius Dec 2020
you said our love was unconditional
genuine, with no strings attached

but what is that love worth
when you dont love me back
278 · Dec 2020
transatlanticism
Kris Pretorius Dec 2020
a peaceful sunset
on a slow westward breeze

like a large distant ember
slowly drowning in the sea

is your new life what you hoped for?
how’s the land of the free?

heard you got that scholarship
do you even still think of me?

since you’ve left i’ve grown lonely
your love is all i need



that ****** Atlantic ocean
separating you from me
260 · Oct 2023
Ingrid Jonker
Kris Pretorius Oct 2023
As jy weer in jou dagboek skryf
Onthou
Dat daar rede genoeg is
Om te bly vashou

Die goue blaar in die somerson,
En die blou moederkappies
Hulle wag nog steeds vir jou

Teen tafelberg
Waar onskuldige bloed nog steeds
Vermeng is met die sout see water

Daai water wat ons voorouers gedra het naar hierdie land van prag en praal
Het jou bevry en weggedra naar n plek ver hier vandaan

Ook al is ek en jy deur afstand en tyd geskei
Hou ek daai oop bladsy
Van jou treurigheid
Langs my sy
251 · Nov 2020
Ruby
Kris Pretorius Nov 2020
The red glows of the last summer sun
Shone nowhere near as bright as you
Our Pacific Highway trips with water cool
When you'd never catch me feeling blue

I hope he takes you on trips
To where the sea kisses sand
To where the views last forever
I hope he holds your hand

I'm sorry I had to go
Guess death wouldn't let us be
Whenever you see a setting sun
Do you still think of me?
226 · Oct 2020
the poet
Kris Pretorius Oct 2020
what is a poet
but someone lost in his own fantasy
trying to romanticize life
trying to climb high and fly higher still
just to ultimately fall down from that self-made tower of lies
and face reality
223 · Apr 2020
lovebird
Kris Pretorius Apr 2020
oh lovebird,
i’ve been a stranger to your ways
been staying up till 3 o’clock
i swear to God, it never stops
but i guess we’re no strangers to pain

our chemistry has settled down
but i swear, i’ll breathe life in it again,
just give me time

no longer will we have to stray
and dwell on all these long lost days
and nights
oh lovebird
it’ll be alright
215 · Oct 2020
the haunted ghost
Kris Pretorius Oct 2020
im a ghost of my former self
since i was left for dead
last autumn down at the southside bank
she left with him instead

but months are lifetimes to some
and i loved her lifetimes ago
still her memories haunt me daily
and to think, that im the ghost

but lingering wont help me live
or make it clear to see
that all these photographs and dreams
wont bring her back to me
189 · May 2020
TheGirlOnTheTrainRideHome
Kris Pretorius May 2020
that angel carved visage sings silent poetry
rhymes of what you and I might one day be
and under those lost verses of rhyme
i lost myself in those sunrise eyes
183 · Jun 2020
seasonal shift
Kris Pretorius Jun 2020
i hold on to distant summer days
they keep me warm during these nights of snow

and i’m not the only one who hasn’t forgotten
these memories lay restless still
as the aging leaves on trees still know

the color of your weary eyes
and as the final embers glow

the wind sings songs with beauty only to be matched by your sweet voice

during these lonely nights of snow
your absence leaves me cold
but i feel as if you should know
i hold you closer still
183 · May 2020
lofi
Kris Pretorius May 2020
the sun's last ember light
haunting over the city
like a ghost, ending the day

both of us on that balcony
our wide and bloodshot eyes
a smile on your warm and freckled face

these memories I hold on to
these memories keep me awake
its such a shame that were all destined
to fall back down from grace
182 · Aug 2020
golden hour
Kris Pretorius Aug 2020
i sit and watch as the sun goes down
just another day lost for now
i know someday this will end
someday you’ll fall in love
and i wont pretend
174 · Apr 2020
cancer
Kris Pretorius Apr 2020
to this day,
sometimes i cry,
or let out little sighs,

i envy those who kept their loved ones
better close than i
On some rainy and gloomy autumn day,
A constant beeping of heart monitors,
Murmurs echoing through halls,
The odors of cleaning alcohol and decay,
Old and decrepit, still here, I lay

Peering through the shutter, opened wide,
At the rain knocking down shriveled-up leaves,
At various little plants that have lost their color and died,
In memories I dwell, to distract me of what comes closer,
I sigh,

It’s funny how these leaves have remembered the color of your eyes,
And the wind, your sweet embrace,
It’s funny that it’s been 50 years,
That I haven’t seen your face,

I wonder If you still remember me,
Or the laughs we used to share,
Or how you changed me as a person,
To again believe in love and care,

If only I could go back in time,
To those winter nights, in the cold,
I’d put it all on the line,
And send you “ily’s” through the phone,

Or more snarky pick-up lines,
In which my *******-ness would show,
Or more pictures that I had snapped that day,
I should’ve written you more poems,

Never again, in my travels, did I meet someone,
That had her humor or beauty,
Or her wit or her charms,
Or her sensitive, kind soul, you’d want to protect from all harm,

Now I lay here, yet I smile,
Because in memories of you,
I’m naught but beguiled,

And I know I am being called from above,
But I still pay it little to no mind,
As I’m still stuck on cloud number 9,
Because of she who still believes in love.

— The End —