Roy Campbell

Roy Campbell was a major South African poet

One whose name lives on as one of literary note

He died in his fifties in his literary prime

One of the world great writers then of the time

Although he died many decades ago

True fame long outlives physical mortality happens to be so

Roy Campbell may be dead but not his fame

And today his lives on as a great literary name

It says more of him than any words can say

That to many lovers of poetry his poems a source of joy today

Those who know his poems as fans of him remain

Why greatness lives on its own self does explain

Those who say of poets like he was not many born in a century

With them i am one who only can agree

Long after the gift of life from him has gone

His genius in his poems today lives on

It is not saying anything in any way that is new

That the greats of literature are in the few

And amongst them Roy Campbell his place retain

His poetic genius has become literature's gain.

Francis Duggan