Frank Meintjies is a writer based in Johannesburg known for his creative writing and poetry. Frank’s poetry collections are ‘Unfettered Days’, ‘Connexions’ and ‘My Rainbow’. He has also written several children’s stories and short stories.

Winter is a time for hibernation. For slowing down. For conservation, containment and reflection. Covid-19 forced us into a protracted state of winter and today’s Poetry Minute “Winter Tree” is a reflection on this unforeseen winter. Frank shared a description of the behaviours brought about by the state of emergency and South Africa’s hard lockdown. The clawing sense of desperation, the scratchiness or tetchiness of being unsettled and annoyed by the many restrictions and instructions. I am often struck by how Frank is able to tell direct (and often harrowing) truths with his words - his turn of phrase drives straight to the core with unexpected simplicity.

‘The effect, for someone living alone, was a withering away. A drying up caused by lack of contact, worry and anxiety. There was less laughter. But the season will pass; all is not lost. That is the secret in the title ... it refers only to a specific period. "I write" refers to creativity. I wrote about the virus, about miners being forced to be the first to return to work without PPE. I wrote poems about the ways in which Covid showed the cracks in the bones of our society. These are the “gaunt shadows”. My creativity focused a great deal on the shadow side. Sure, we like the sunny side; but we need to be in the immediate, confront the current pressures, deal with 'the moment'. This creates a stronger basis for moving forward, when the moving forward moment comes’ - Frank.

WINTER TREE
Created by | Frank Meintjies
Cinematography and Editing by | Noah Cohen
Sound recording by | Zain Vally

A Poetry Minute is curated by Bongile Gorata Lecoge-Zulu