Memories of a Zimbabwean Childhood

Long ago,the guinea fowls congregated Clourfully and innumerably And sang sweet songs And played in the savanah They sang for the for the antelopes To leap and dance in the beautiful grass lands The farm boys listened and danced too And their hearts were merry At night around the fire the folk tales were interesting; The wild dogs barked ; The nightjars called peacefully; The owls clamorous,booming hoot was heard The starry fireflies flashed in courtship elaborate dances But the conflagrations came And swept across the grass lands and bushvelds The axemen were merciless ; And by their millions the trees were severed The poachers were ruthless And the animals wild knew not more peace The guinea fowls were poisoned The nature loving farm boys beheld All this chapter in heavy hearted silence The guinea folws and other song birds Shall never sing again And the times shall never be better again.