In his poetry which he wrote during his time in jail, Breyten Breytenbach shows that his wife and his love for her had a tremendous influence on his survival under the physically and emotionally harsh conditions of prison. The thought of his wife allowed Breyten Breytenbach to escape from the horrors of his surroundings in prison and gave him psychological freedom; word from her let him escape into a world of space, peace and freedom …showed first 75 words of 1185 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1185 total…see the world differently, if even just for a moment. Breyten Breytenbach’s wife was the source of his strength – her letters, memories of happier days spent together, and the thought of his love for her, permitted him to flee psychologically from his ugly, confused surroundings. She could still bring him joy, peace and comfort even though she could be seen or physically reached by him – in this way she is his saviour, his God.