Walk With Me
Come take a walk with me
let us stroll the savannah
I want to show you the beauty
to introduce you to East Africa
A land seeped in dark history and mysteries
where once the Tembo roamed in their thousands
mighty animals who feared no-one not even lions
capable of uprooting a tree yet also tender to young
Most Majestic king of beasts lays sunbathing
his job is protection and to father strong cubs
replete from a gnu feast he dally's the day away
at dusk he will, with his brother do a patrol
There are hidden water holes if one knows where
here the birds swoop in, parrots and love birds
weavers and horn bills, egrets and fishing eagles
all flock to drink and then if safe a lovely bath
Thorn acacias adorn this lush land their tops flat
a treat for the long neck reticulated giraffe
they nibble away and seem to avoid the thorns with a-plume
then gracefully bending down to snack on buffalo grass
Vast changes in landscape, deep rift valleys
amidst the hills filled with peace and grace
lakes that startle as so bright they sparkle
once teeming with fish now sadly rather depleted
Villages of mud and straw huts, naked children
women with just a skirt, many men in throngs
cauldron in the centre where all share the cooking
a communal building where the young men sleep
Scrub trees line the deep red soil with clumps
of dry grass, little cover here for hunter
the herds on high alert ready to take to heel and flee
the slightest movement enough to spook them
Wondrous baobab trees with root like branches
a favourite place for natives to stash food
the landscape is continuously changing, some things no more
animals hunted to verge of extinction for what good?
The herds of Tembo once numbering up to 300 per herd
with ancient leaders who had the knowledge to survive
the harshest of the droughts that can plague this land
Africa the continent of fire, of spices, filled with flora
This continent of dark mystery holds me spell bound
it hosts a vast treasure of so many things all precious
from the smallest to the largest, from stones come gems
how can I convince you that here you must visit and soon
For here in this land are so many stories to delight,
to inspire and even to soothe, and some that will enrage
the gentle poet heart. And inspired by the vast array
here on display your poets soul will be totally inspired
written 01/12/2014
by Shadow Hamilton
motif:epic
contest: Impress me 1V
Copyright © Shadow Hamilton | Year Posted 2014
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