The Baobab, A Silent Witness

Memories like deep invisible tracks in my mind

Magical images not difficult to find

Glorious carmine dawns: sun kissed sky

Mountainous clouds towering high

An earthy glow of fire: a sultry breeze

Whipping winds and bowing trees

Elephants march to a throbbing drum roll

The essence of Africa: Africa’s soul

Baboons fretting as a leopard stalks by

The melancholy call of a fish eagle way up high

Spiders’ webs sparkle like transparent lace

Water buck and impala melt without a trace

Rhinos, kudu and hippos galore

Our sun burnt land offers it all

The roar of the lion: king of the beasts

Ferocious hunters: gorging feasts

Ambling giraffes: necks stretching up high

Heads above the clouds: close to the sky

Vibrant rich scents and russet trees

Natures’ wind chimes romancing the breeze

Wild dogs yipping: energies run high

A jagged blinding flash lights up the sky

A throaty growl of thunder: a reverberating pound

Nature’s anger released, trembling ground

Elephants and rhinos, their backs hunched against the rain

Powerful and cleansing: easing their pain

Small droplets like diamonds glisten with light

Like tears of an elephant reflecting their plight

 Footprints

I TURN TO ALL THE OLD FOLK STARING AT ME

ONE LADY REACHES OUT PATTING MY KNEE

‘What will become of your sun burnt land?

This unleashing of violence by the human hand’

I STRAIGHTEN MY SHOULDERS BREATHING DEEP INTO MY CHEST

‘I will continue to write poetry giving of my best.’

Footprints

Africa is strong like the ancient baobab tree

Man still has lessons to learn. Do you agree?

The baobab, a silent witness: the listening tree

Hearing tales of greed and corruption

‘White gold’ and ‘rhino horn’ for a fee

When man realises there is nowhere else to go

Nothing left to destroy and nothing left to show

There will always be survivors beneath a veiled sun

No need for the violence from greedy men’s guns

When the sun goes down: stars twinkling bright

Mosquitoes hum and welcome the night

Miracle of dawn emerges splashed with pink and gold braid

Peace spreading its wings: a calming serenade

All an intricate part of life on this sacred earth

Blessings, abundance, peace and rebirth.

baobab

 

10 thoughts on “The Baobab, A Silent Witness

  1. Oh how lovely!!!!! for a short while I was completely transported back to that awesome place that I hold so very dear in my heart……beautiful Jen, just beautiful!!!

  2. Your poems take me straight home and I can feel the heat and smell the earth…thankyou!!!! You are an incredible writer…next step publishing….:) I would buy “)

  3. Jen this has to be the best poem so far! I imagined myself deep in the bush surrounded by the wild under the baobab and was totally captured in the moment!
    Wow!! ????????????????????????

  4. Reading this beautiful poem made loose myself for a brief. Like as if my soul was transported to the place you write about, feeling and understanding the meaning of your words. Thank you.

  5. You’re breaking my heart and lifting me at the same time. Determined to go back one day.
    Neil
    🙂

  6. This is so beautiful one’s senses come alive. Give us more Jenny

  7. So much talent and hope that those who love the land will one day win

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