FreeRiddim | the south african uber poetry, arts and culture portal

Under African Skies
by marylin clarke

A land in contrast under African skies
Where life is real with no disguise
From deserts where the sand dunes shift
To swollen clouds that gather and drift

Across verdant jungles dense with trees
Where colored birds sing and monkey’s tease
To open savannahs where grazing herds meet
With watchful eyes and legs so fleet

Upon rocky hilltop, stealthily stalking
A crouching leopard, barely walking
His mottled coat, sleek and shining
Standing stock still, then reclining

While down below in grasses gold
Tawny lions strong and bold
Yawn and stretch their waking muscles
And a young cub leaps and tussles

Incessant humming on the wing
As insects buzz and chant and sing
And grassy odors fill the air
Heavy with dung from elephants there

And as the sun begins to dip
Beyond the western mountains lip
A blazing crimson cloud streaked sky
Over Africa as night is night.