Africa

There is something about the smells and sounds
of the African wild
that remains in you
no matter where you travel to…

The African bush’s distinct scent
-so pleasant to the senses
as one inhales Africa.

When my soul is silent,
I can still hear Africa’s animals …

The sound of a strong roar stays with one forever;
lions lazing between the golden grasses sparkling in the sunlight…

In the distance, a lone leopard's leg dangles down a a tree
where it lays perched on a branch that can carry its weight...

Hippos’ 'half-heads' sitting silently on the surface of the water
as zebras and springbokkies bend down at the waters’ edge
to drink deeply after the drought
while giraffes are on bended knees as if in gratitude to God..
-their tails flicking the flies away…

Warthogs watch …waiting
-bewilderment written all over their faces
seeing the dry,
cracked clay pan disappear as the Heavens open!
- all animals welcome the September rains...

I see a thick-skinned rhinoceros standing in the sparse shade
of a doringbos
and it saddens me to think that these majestic beasts
are hunted for their horns.

Elephants trumpet a tune
that dust clouds carry across the veld
and when I close my eyes
I can still hear the constant, consistent chirping
of monkeys swinging between the branches!

It’s so much like holding a sea shell’s ear to my ear
when I can’t see the sea,
I can still hear it…

The laughing hyenas’ nervous giggles,
indulging in a feeding frenzy,
sounding more like hysterical human laughter
will always echo in my ears …

As Giraffes wade through the water
strolling with long strides
in slow motion
I capture the memory in my mind
so that I can rewind my thoughts to Africa
when I’m far away
from the place of my birth…

When I see a painting or photograph
of their silent silhouettes against the beautiful backdrop
of the warm night sky
a warmth is deposited deep within me
and as I look down I can still see soil stuck between my toes
in my struggle to remove stubborn black jacks from my clothes...

—
Brenda.ps23©