Savannah Sundown

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The fierce sun is worn out
Slouching towards his nest
As a sapped child to bed
The air is still, in contemplation
A calm ambience spreads
Over the naked fields and
The animal kingdom
Breathes a sigh of relief
Yet treading sombrely
As if afraid to disturb
The sleepy giant.
 
The cows turn towards home
Leisurely foraging the sparse
Brown grass and shrubs
Trodden by their own hoofs.
The clear blue sky turns from
Yellow to glowing orange
As the quietening sun
In the hue of a molten ball  
Drops quickly into his shell,
Burning but no longer scorchy.
 
Then Suddenly...
Blasts of cool air sweeps
Over the bare brown fields
And the cattle egrets
Take to the cooling sky
Destined for the other side
Where they pass the night
On the ancient baobab
United in prayer with all
For the next drop of rain.
 
The children, in delight, wave
Their hands in song at the sight:
“Cattle egret,
inscribe my hands for me,
Do not let a scorpion sting me
And let not the viper bite me
All white!"

(Goa-naapierik ngmarisi
N’nisa te mu
Kan pa nuoong dom mu
Kan pa waapiik dom mu
Cha-lalalala!)[1]



 

[1] The original song in the Buli Language. 

Comments

  1. Anonymous4:41 am, March 01, 2023

    Sweet memories of childhood. Thanks John.
    Martin

    ReplyDelete

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