Africa a continent of hope
Paragons of love where overwhelming joy flows.
Your blessed resources make you a source of attraction.
Without you, the world is formless.
oh! Beautiful Africa
Africa a continent of peace
Where trees wave in love and harmony,
Birds fly and sing in unison
The river flows like an electric current.
The mountains are climbs and reclimb.
oh! Beautiful Africa
You bring civilization to all men.
You have the only Pyramid the world can boost off.
We see Rhinoceros, Greater kudu, Galago, Ostrich in you only.
You are rich in biodiversity, a shining desert, a huge valley, and good Savanna.
Oh! The continent of diverse culture and beauty
Oh! Beautiful Africa
Africa a heart of many
Where stones, golds, diamonds are surplus.
A breed of dark, beautiful people
Life in you is magical and full of excitement.
Beautiful are your traditions that attract your haters.
How beautiful are you?
Oh! Beautiful Africa.
Once
I roamed the grasslands
Free
Once
Full quick alert vital
Free
Nature framed my existence
Now
Your barbed wire is all
I see.
The best I could hope for was a lame or weak animal,
limping along, not able to catch up with their tribe.
My cubs are hungry, and they like fresh blood meat.
A young antelope or gazelle would be perfect!
As I glance through the African grasses, I consider different scenarios.
The old ones often fall behind, but their tummies are not tasty.
There is more gristle, sinew, and splintery bone than meat.
The last time I brought home an old one, we could barely gnaw through.
A herd of kudu came leaping through, graceful, confident.
Hunting a young healthy one would certainly spook the pack
They might invariably change their feeding path after a fear like that.
I lick my lips, waiting for young ones, but maybe they are unborn.
The hyenas came past my grasses next with noises that infuriate me;
“Supper?” my bravest cub asks me, hopefully. Soon, I say with yellow eyes.
I am proud that my hunting prowess has kept them alive so far,
My cubs and I sit down to wait, not as patient as we were at day’s beginning.
Zebra, Yak, Xenopus, Walrus, Vulture, Urial, Tiger, Snake, Rhinoceros, Quokka, Peacock, Orangutan, Numbat, Muntjac, Lion, Kudu, Jerboa, Iguana, Hyena, Guan, Frog, Elephant, Dromedary, Camel, Bison, Avians.
The beat of the jembe, a pulse of unity between embodiment and self.
The seeds of Ubuntu, our grandmothers sowed in murmured displays.
The grunt of a Kudu, an imprinted bellow of pride in the herd.
To Witness Uhuru, if conscious of self a prophecy dwells.
The Black Conscious Gurus, a pride in depression neglecting oppression.
The Black Conscious movement the beautiful course depicting progression!
WRITTEN IN THE SAND
The Big Five—Africa’s pride in the vast open wild
Buffalo, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Leopard and Lion
Their prey—scattered Impala, Kudu and Waterbuck
On hardened dust… their footprints prevail and stand
WRITTEN IN THE SAND
The proposal day--- carefully planned- a beautiful beach
Red Roses, a Picnic, Sunrise and Diamond ring
The petals—scattered on the soft damp sea tabloid
Lover’s plea….a stick his pen, “Marry me—take my hand”
WRITTEN IN THE SAND
Early one morning--- He entered the dusty temple to teach
Scribes and Pharisees brought her in—an adulterous
Large stones…scattered for all to throw and accuse
Jesus bent down… wrote with His finger on condemning land
What was His message…..?
WRITTEN IN THE SAND
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