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Open Poetry #36
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Conversation with a Burchell Zebra Foal and His Mama
| Open Poetry #36 |
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Conversation with a Burchell Zebra Foal and His Mama |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
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Conversation with a Burchell Zebra Foal and His Mama 30 March 2002 Little zebra, I came across you in a sunny clearing in the forest you, your mama, and another. At first I stood and talked as I have always done to other zebras at other times … not knowing … not knowing what was shimmering on the edge of my universe. Perhaps it was because I spoke to all of you at first, though the third was more interested in grazing and didn’t reply at all, but Mama listened, assessing me, and somehow I felt her approval and friendship and a bonding of mothers. It was as though she felt it good manners on my part not just to charm her baby without announcing myself and my intentions. I told her of her beauty and that Burchell zebras are my favourites, and somehow she sensed that every word I said was true. I told her how exquisite her little foal was, not newborn, but just old enough to scratch his ear with his hindhoof and how adorable that was but how I was concerned that Little One may have had earmites, but then I repeated to her the voices of my education which told me that was not an issue for wild animals particularly zebras and she listened to all this with interest, twitching each ear independently in reply as you did too, listening to every word. And I turned to you and told you how clever you were and by then, Mama was totally at ease and I swelled with pride and love and gratitude for Mama’s trust and she replied with more ear twitches and placid deep gaze eyes and grazed in the summer sun, trusting, and gradually it was mostly you I was talking too, for the more I talked, the more you listened, enraptured at my voice and the tales I told, Arabian Nights for Zebra Foals, and Mama listened still but in the background as though trusting you too to know the lessons she’d taught. I told you how your stripes flowed up into your mane, and said for you to know how smart that looked to look at Mama’s mane - and she looked up from her grazing for a moment. I told you how God gave you your beautiful stripes of black and white and shadow brown in love as camouflage in dappled light to guard you from danger and you listened and twitched an ear. I told you of Flicka, my horse, and details of how horses are different and of how they are the same and you twitched your ears and held your head at times on one side as though amazed. We talked and talked and talked and the sun warmed our different backs and then the moment came … You took a few steps towards me on little zebra feet. I thought I’d died and gone to Heaven. I held my breath with bursting joy for I thought Mama would stop you … but she didn’t. She looked up … and went on grazing. I thanked her for her trust - she twitched an ear and looked at me placidly and accepting, zebra of the wild she was, then you and I resumed our conversation. I felt as though in a dream. The moments were brighter than the sun. We talked and talked and our conversation became more and more intense … and then … you took a few more steps towards me, cautious, as Mama had taught, but curious and unafraid … the pinnacle of happiness for me, for now you were but a Mama-zebra length away. Your eyes and mine held each other and we talked and talked of all things like the beauty of the summer day and the blue, blue cloudless sky. I wanted time to stop and then found I was wrong about the pinnacle of happiness for it stretched further still … for you took yet more steps. I thought my heart would explode with love and trust, but this time you had crossed the boundary of Mama’s comfort, but not her trust, for all she did was to wander a few steps slowly out of sight, - no call, no fear, no rushing between us, no lashing out at me with her tiny sharp, sharp hooves - just a few steps out of sight, knowing you would follow. But so much gratitude and love and trust had passed in that golden triangle, that I could not have wished for more. Thank you my little zebra darling and not least Mama dear for the sacred moments of bonding with a baby zebra and his Mama in a conversation that will take me back to every word and twitch of ear at every recall, and each time I return to your vast grassland hills and riverine forest home, I’ll look for you my baby zebra, and your Mama and when you’ve grown I’ll search the depths of every zebra’s eyes and talk my soul deep into his or hers in the hopes that it is you my little zebra foal. - Owl |
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| © Copyright 2005 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
This is a gift of a read. Every now and then I read something that totally kicks down my walls, and today, this is just such. exquisitely captivating and I will return to read this one again and again |
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garysgirl  
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Oh yes!! This is a gift to us this day. Thank you so much for this beautiful story. It made me think of all the times I've talked to animals and they've listened with a twitch of the ear or a twinkle of eye while gazing deeply into mine. My Gary tells me they like my voice and that it's soothing to them. Maybe your voice is the same, as you talk to your little animals. I will also be back to read this again and again. Thank You!!  |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Now this was simply magic! I have printed it out to read to my granddaughter who not only loves animals but we both have been looking at cows to find one we saw that was a favorite when young  These lines sure reminded me of our constant gazing into any cow's eyes  I’ll search the depths of every zebra’s eyes and talk my soul deep into his or hers in the hopes that it is you my little zebra foal. I thank you for an absolutely delightful bit of time spent reading this. Oh, the other Sharon (Poetdevine) posted this link and I watch this every single day - so if you know of another I would sure love to see it. Here is the one she posted from National Geographic anyway. http://205.188.130.53/ngm/wildcamafrica/wildcam.html |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Owl I love this! I talk to the critters around here all the time. Peacocks and raccoons and even skunks...and squirrels. The peacocks listen the best. The others are too busy doing the things that they do. Thank you for the lovely feeling I got from reading of your zebra friends.  |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you Serenity Blaze, Garysgirl, Mysteria and Martie. I am very honoured by what you all said. I am glad you felt what the poem was all about and that some of you also enjoy conversations with animals. It is very rewarding. I talk to my cat, Tigger, and my dog, Daisy, and my late horse, Flicka, and every animal I come across. Mysteria,I tried that link, but ran out of airtime while I was busy. I will go back there another time, when my funds are healthier. Thanks for that. - Owl |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I absolutely love this!! *S* And... from what this tells of you... I envy those zebras the opportunity for conversation with you. *S* Beautiful write!! |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
what a nice way to portray the innocence which we should give to everyone, in allowing, and expression, the trust & complete readiness to allow.... exceptional write this was delightful |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
This is entirely too charming to float off the page. Back to the top just because reading this makes me happy. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you Suthern, LeeJ (and Serenity Blaze again!) for understanding this very special half hour or so and for the very kind words and thoughts. - Owl |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
It was a pleasure to be allowed into your world. I have never seen nature up so close. I like your personification of the zebras. That was clever. |
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