AFRICA Odyssey: Poetry on Safari—2
June, 2006, I went on safari—an opportunity of a lifetime. While the camera clicked, so did my mind. I’d not "wordscaped" (escaped with words/written poems) since my book, Poetic Wisdom: Revealing and Healing (1998). But, patrolling the bush by jeep, the urge returned full force. I saw no other way to jot down experiences of the moment, treasures not to be forgotten. Though I took too long to type up these poetic souvenirs after the trip ended, the delay has had advantages.
On review, this poetry puts me back in the moment—that moment—which seems to stand the test of time. Now, I’m curious to know others’ responses to it. My first group of poems, written in Bostswana, were posted in this blog’s February 6, 2007 entry. My second group of poems were created in Zambia and appear below, in this entry.
A true wonder of the world
My heart opens
Hoping for transformations
That the surprise rainbow it gives
In my being lives
Wishes on a rainbow
That I hope will be
Big falls, here and now, it’s just you an me
Please let them be
None else around
No other sound except the rushing waters
A perfect moment to savor
A life changing experience, and more.
2. Spunky Monkey
At the Livingstone
They’re kind of funky
Monkeys, monkeys, everywhere
Doing what a monkey might do
A human too
Steal, snatch, run, grab
All in a day’s monkey business
Hold onto your apple
Close your door
Whatever a monkey gets, he’ll always want more
Monkey see, monkey do
For a Livingstone monkey
That’s very true
They’ll outwit even you
Outside the room, at the dining table
On your balcony, or on the roof above
By the pool, or at the dock or bar
Seated or standing up
They’re ready to pounce
Faster than fast
Breast feeding
Or showing their “blue power down below
With one eye
Giant or petite
They’re part of a fleet
One appears
Then one more
And before you know it
It’s a pack attack
Hold on to loose parts
Sweet creatures, wild hearts.
3. And Then There Were Seven
Seven zebras that is
Wild, or so the hotel says
But they bait them with food
Three consecutive days we’ve seen them
Same places, same mood
Old, young, in between
In groups of two, three, or four
And with one off to the side
Every configuration
Every direction
Plenty of attention
But, don’t touch
Even at the zoo you wouldn’t
Six inches away is where I want to stay
Commune with them, make friends
Let them know why I’m taking so many photos
The memories they’ll give
The feelings of glee
They’ll be painted and transformed
Reformed but not tamed
Reassembled in my head
Considered from every point of view
Become pieces of my art
As well as my heart
Long stripes, short ones
Swirls and whirls
Very black, very white
Shades of gray, beige, and brown
All my notes on their markings are jotted down
200 digital images later
I’ll be certain there’s one I missed
The two that nearly kissed
The one licking her wound
Always seeking that better and more original shot
Then, on the the last day at the last hour
It comes perchance
Off to the side, the beautiful one sits down
What a picture, what a memory
What a moment
To treasure.
p.s. For more recent African Poetry, please check out blog entries about DocSusan’s Kilimanjaro Cimb (9 poems) and Tanzania Safari (16 poems). The two new series were started December 2, 2007.
