The Magic of Africa - pipTalk Forums

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2005-12-31 03:49 PM

The Magic of Africa
28 March 2003

Let us all take hands
and dance
and sing -

from the land of sky and sand
where the nara grows;
to eagled tips of dragon-backed mountains
and sun-blessed rock
and craggy bursts of coral winter warmth;
to secret, verdant, forest sanctuaries
where air breathes whistle-sweet
and avian song and monkey chatter
slip into footfalls in the leaves;
to cities quivering with education and commerce -

for what we have
is a most
simple
and glorious
thing.

- Owl

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

1 posted 2005-12-31 09:21 PM

I sure like the face of Africa that you show us!

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

2 posted 2005-12-31 11:21 PM

Owl...I'll take your hand and dance!

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

3 posted 2006-01-01 04:15 PM

Thanks MidniteSun and Martie.

I love Africa, MidniteSun. I just wish I was a more worthy poet and could do my country, South Africa, and my continent, Africa, more justice.

Thanks for dancing with me Martie!

- Owl

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

4 posted 2006-01-01 09:34 PM

truly a haven . . .

I don't know what nara is, tried to google it and kept coming up with things from Japan . . .

Someday . . . have to see that.

This is lovely, made me feel as if I were looking up from beneath a big elephant ear plant.

Trillium

Member Patricius

since 2001-03-09

Posts 12098
Idaho, USA

5 posted 2006-01-01 09:45 PM

Owlsa: I enjoyed your poem so much! I have always longed to see Africa, or at least a part of it, in person! What a marvelous continent!

Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

exhale
Senior Member

since 2003-06-13

Posts 646
Alberta,Canada

6 posted 2006-01-01 10:39 PM

god, that sounds amazingly wonderful.
great write.

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach

7 posted 2006-01-01 11:03 PM

Oh, it sounds wonderful !!
hugs, Chris

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.
~Carl Sandburg

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-29

Posts 7115
South Africa

8 posted 2006-01-02 01:12 AM

Owl - How different our perceptions are of the same country. I envy you your more natural environment - would move if I could from the concrete jungle of Johannesburg even though my immediate surroundings are quite peaceful and parklike.

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

9 posted 2006-01-02 02:00 AM

Makes me want to visit! Much enjoyed this.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

10 posted 2006-01-02 02:11 PM

Makes me feel like I have visited--a testament to your descriptive ability.

I love your writing--you incorporate all the senses and leave me feeling, well, satisfied.

Not an easy task with me.

Very much enjoyed m'friend.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

11 posted 2006-01-02 02:43 PM

Now this sounds wonderful!!
Makes me want to come visit.
Hugs~Nancy

In the midst of winter,
I found there lives within me..
An invincible summer.

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

12 posted 2006-01-02 02:53 PM

"a most simple and glorious" description of the magic of Africa! I very much enjoyed this little trip to your homeland!

EA

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

13 posted 2006-01-02 02:59 PM

Thank you littewing, Trillium, exhale, Nightshade, Honeybunch, iliana, Serenity Blaze and Enchantress for your kind and expressive replies.

Littlewing, a nara is a plant that grows in the desert.  Here is a link to it:http://klaserie.krugerpark.co.za/africa_nara_plant.html

Yes, Trillium,exhale and Nightshade it is a magical continent.  I wouldn’t , couldn’t live anywhere else.

Honeybunch, I live in a city – Durban – but Yellowwood Park is much more natural and has its own nature reserve, and my own garden is an indigenous forest garden.  Yes, I am very lucky.

Iliana and Enchantress, if you did visit, the magic of Africa won’t let you leave!

Serenity Blaze, I am so glad you are enjoying your visit and thank you for the compliments.  I am very honoured.  I love your writing too.

- Owl

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

14 posted 2006-01-02 03:31 PM

Thank you Earth Angel. I am glad you enjoyed the trip.

- Owl

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

15 posted 2006-01-02 06:37 PM

Thanks for that link, gosh it looks like a crown of thorns.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

16 posted 2006-01-02 07:21 PM

quote:
from the land of sky and sand
where the nara grows;
to eagled tips of dragon-backed mountains
and sun-blessed rock
and craggy bursts of coral winter warmth;
to secret, verdant, forest sanctuaries
where air breathes whistle-sweet
and avian song and monkey chatter
slip into footfalls in the leaves;

I chose to leave civilization wanting...
for this seems like heaven
to me.

ice
Member Elite

since 2003-05-17

Posts 3404
Pennsylvania

17 posted 2006-01-03 04:46 AM

"Let us all take hands
and dance
and sing -

from the land of sky and sand
where the nara grows;"

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

(African Nara)

Love it when I read a good poem, and as a bonus discover a new plant..

enjoyed
______ ____ice
><>

Go here to see more about the Nara plant> http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/e50/nara.htm

tracie66
Member Elite

since 2000-01-18

Posts 4713
Australia

18 posted 2006-01-03 05:33 AM

excellent imagery..thanks for sharing the beauty of Africa with us.

~hugs~

Tracie

Love is the life of the soul...
It is the harmony of the universe

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

19 posted 2006-01-03 07:43 AM

This reminded me of one of my teachers who was homesick for Africa.

Intensely beautiful write.

Holding hands and singing with you.
Margherita

Edward Grim
Senior Member

since 2005-12-18

Posts 1154
Greenville, South Carolina

20 posted 2006-01-03 09:43 AM

You never cease to amaze me Owl, great poem.

"for what we have
is a most
simple
and glorious
thing."

Great line, keep up the fantastic work - Ed Grim

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

21 posted 2006-01-03 03:04 PM

Just Beautiful..magnificent writing!

Maree

how i would love you, love you as no one ever did! Die and still, love you more. And still love you more..and more
~Neruda~

loved_and_redeemed
Junior Member

since 2006-01-03

Posts 22
BC, Canada

22 posted 2006-01-03 05:35 PM

Fantastic!
I am south african, and you really captured the beauty of the country.
Thanks for doing our country justice

Skyfire

Member Elite

since 2000-12-27

Posts 3381
Riding

23 posted 2006-01-03 05:59 PM

I've always wanted to see Africa, it's on my to see list. Who knows if I'll ever get there, but thanks for this short trip

and then He created the horse...

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

24 posted 2006-01-04 11:20 AM

It’s a pleasure littlewing.

Thank you Sunshine, it is!

Thanks ice, and thanks too for the additional link to the nara.

Thanks, Tracie.  Glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks Margherita.  I can understand being homesick for Africa if away from it.  I would be too.  Thanks too, for holding hands and singing with me.  Whereabouts in Africa was your teacher from?

Thanks Ed.  I am honoured.

Thanks Dark Angel (Maree).  Glad you liked it.

Thanks love_and_redeemed.  Where in South Africa are you from?  And it is a plllllllleasure to do justice to our country!

Thanks Skyfire.  Glad you enjoyed the visit.  I llllllllove your wolf or dog icon and your signature: And then he created the horse – Well, it couldn’t be better!!!

- Owl

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.