A poem for Peter

3/10/2017

by David Wertheim Aymes (written after the talk Peter van Breda gave on the Friday (22nd September 2017) before the Ordination of Michaël Merle)

Saturday, 23 September 2017
12:57

At first I saw him as of old;
And wondered what was to shine.
A gentle factual sequence flowed
From perspective's hard earned climb.

And as we walked this careful path
So soundly birthed and nurtured more
Within his trusted soul,
So rose the colours in his cheeks,
The blossom of his store.

The years of care and tailored food
His soul has rightly formed.
Now living there as trusted friend
We see the streams that mend.

The thread was long but the stitches sound
And so the garment formed.
It revealed itself in ample time
In each and every soul.

The sower knows the seeds he sows;
In hope of fertile ground.

Rev. Peter van Breda - Priest in London. Peter was a priest in the Johannesburg congregation for 21 years (1980 - 2001)

2 Comments

Tophatter's Inc. link

7/4/2026 14:01:20

This is such a gentle and thoughtful tribute. The imagery of growth—threads, seeds, garments—really captures the sense of a life shaped slowly and with care.

I especially loved the line about “the thread was long but the stitches sound.” It feels like a quiet acknowledgment that meaningful work takes time, patience, and consistency, and that its impact often reveals itself gradually through others.

There’s also something very warm in how Peter is described—not in grand gestures, but through steady presence, care, and influence. It makes the poem feel personal and sincere rather than formal.

A beautiful piece that honors not just who he was, but how he lived and shaped those around him.

JOYFULPINK STORE link

7/4/2026 14:02:08

This is a really beautiful and reflective piece. It feels like more than a tribute—it reads like a quiet meditation on a life well-lived and the way one person can shape others over time.

I was especially drawn to the imagery of sowing and stitching. There’s something very grounding about that—work done patiently, almost unseen, but with lasting impact. It gives a sense that Peter’s influence wasn’t loud or forceful, but steady and deeply rooted.

The tone throughout feels calm and reverent, like walking alongside someone and gradually coming to understand the depth of who they are. It leaves you with a sense of respect, but also gratitude.

A very moving way to honor him.