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Odyssey From Africa 15b

Odyssey from Africa 15b (Southland)

“Like an antelope in stature 
Yet they hopped along like sparrows!
On big hind limbs like a rabbit’s
With a rat-like tail behind them
 
“At the sight of such strange wonders
I was wakened from my dreaming
And lay staring into darkness 
As my heartbeat raced and thundered

“Till the dawn I lay not sleeping 
As a thought distilled within me
Growing stronger with conviction 
That my life held but one purpose 
 
“One sole focus of my longing 
And one single destination 
That I seek this dreamed-of Southland
Sailing far into the sunrise 
 
“With an eastward blowing wind-stream 
In a ship that is much larger
Than has ever been constructed 
Built to cross the greatest ocean
 
“To discover lands uncharted 
To survive the unknown perils
To withstand all raging tempests
And to find at last the Southland!”

Then the monarch, thus unburdened
Of his inmost dream and passion
And his rapt, astonished listener
Both now spent some time in silence 
 
Walking slowly on together 
Passing through the palace gardens 
Till a sudden spinning movement 
Now arrested Han’s attention 
 
As the boomerang that Matto
Had been throwing in the gardens
Took a banking path toward them
Spiraled down towards the monarch!
 
Han reached out his hand and caught it
And he chided his son Matto
To look carefully beforehand 
At the casting of the wing-form

But the king appeared untroubled 
And responded with a greeting 
“G’day mate! How are you doing?”
Matto mumbled something shyly
 
Kwona then appeared with Lisa
And some servants of the household 
Who with Rosy their pet monkey 
Were out walking in the gardens 
 
They were brought up to the monarch 
Who to each one made acquaintance 
Took their hand within his own hand
Speaking words of kindly greeting
 
Han was feeling rather anxious 
That the king had been endangered
But King Ptolemy the Second 
Was delighted at the wing-form

By his single hand he held it
Closely studying its contours
“What is this swift-flying object?”
“It’s a boomerang” Han answered
 
Han then gave a demonstration 
Of the launching of the wing-form
First it skimmed close to the surface 
Then banked up and left, returning 
 
Back to where they both were standing 
As the king cried out in wonder 
Then he motioned to a warrior 
Of his chosen elite escort
 
That he try to throw the wing-form 
Learn from Han the proper method
So the warrior, one called Anand
Then responded as instructed

Copyright © Phil Salmon | Year Posted 2018

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