Suzanne Delaney Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Zebras

Blue sky forms the fortress of their world

I can picture them- the ebony and white
velvet stripes, the arch of necks, the
flint-edged hooves
Beneath the weather-regimented trees
 they gather in the heat- to rest

Heat waves and the dreaded grunt of beasts of prey
then the  hegira, enmasse
following
the calling of the rain
a vital splash of life-
they heed the voices
 of the seasons change- along the hidden
 pathways of
 the sun browned plains

Suzanne Delaney

he•gi•ra also he•ji•ra (hi-ji'r?, hej'?r-?)  
n. 
1.	A flight to escape danger. 
2.	also Hegira The flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D., marking the beginning of the Muslim era.
[Medieval Latin, from Arabic hijra, emigration, flight, from hajara, to depart.]

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James Fraser June 17, 2015 at 3:26 PM A most wonderful animal is the Zebra. Loved this educational piece Suzanne. If you have some free time, one of my other Zebra poems is 'When Dreams Collide' where Zebra's are mentioned. Thanks for sharing, smiles, James :) :)

Connie Gildersleeve July 13, 2013 at 3:36 PM Suz this is a powerful and beautiful poem. A deeply held view of wildlife conveyed in your work. I've painted zebras, and there is no two a like. Their stripe are like our fingerprints. Warm Smiles, Connie

Tim Ryerson July 10, 2013 at 3:50 PM I remember you telling me you have lived in many different places in your lifetime as I have...This tells me you have at least visited Africa?...There's no other place I would rather see in my lifetime...I am fascinated with these wonderful creatures you describe so elegantly - Tim Suzanne Delaney July 11, 2013 at 12:44 PM Hi Tim: Thanks for your nice comments. I have never been to Africa in person but love Nature Documentaries so this is just from watching Natiional Geographic and shows like that. I hope you get to fulfill your wish to go there.I have another poem I wrote about zebras in a zoo that I will post soon.

S.Zaynab Kamoonpuri July 9, 2013 at 1:49 AM Wow oh my i admire dis poem as much as i adore d beauty zebras, coz of my name i was nicknamed zebra by family. A fab poem u hav here and d effect to me is enhanced by d word hejira.

Cherie Thomas July 8, 2013 at 8:46 PM Lovely write,,, suz, ive always been facinated by the beauty of zebras.....there ebony & ivory coat makes them so unique and distinct. I really enjoyed reading your poem,,,, beautifully written. Ty4sharing cherie...

Poet Destroyer A July 8, 2013 at 9:29 AM beautiful and full of mother nature and her creation, a delight to read, enjoyed, ~p.d.

Poet Tacito July 8, 2013 at 8:39 AM What atmosphere! National Geographic should have a word with you. :) Nicely done!