mama afrika

sparrow eyes comfort warm tender
rich the ground life in abundance
fertile is your earth mama afrika
eden after rain mud lush green grass

your skin is ebony your hair black
white and brown is your eyes
white as milk your teeth
your song clear your heart pure

~

your children thirst mama afrika
fields are bare the rivers are dry
ground solid soil hard turf clods
sun scorching desolate the land

sudden distant ominous cloud warns
nearing light spears far-off thunder
fearfull the wind wailing howling
creation will awaken life multiply

~

mud springs green tufts of grass
game water-holes paradise green
fountains cascade rivers burst
impala and leopard quenched

mountains canyons and waterfalls
vast waving golden plains clear sky
desert sand stones rocks and cliffs
bush thorn trees bark leaves twigs

~

hear the serene night of calm and rest
through ages of drought roaring flood
moons winters and summers passed
eternal since ever endless seasons

mourning dove owl ghostly calls
still of moonlight jackals yelp afar
crickets and water frogs in choir
rustle rush murmur of the river

~

proud the young woman carries water
on her head balances an earthen jug
she's strong of courage she's joyful
plumed reeds sing ancient songs

on a stone she grinds maize as in ages
breadbaskets to feed her children
longing comfort her round and fullness
young breasts filled with milk and life

~

let me lose myself in your madness
dare me in your love's valleys and hills
your bosom arms' loving strong embrace
cherish hold safe friendly comforting

silver moonlight hope mercy peace
love sad and wistful dim and shaded
cosy snug loving warm soft huddled
your eyes are gentle sparrows

~ ~ ~

Land of milk and honey

The Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her
waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden,
and her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving,
and the voice of melody.

He might eat the increase of the fields;
and he made him to suck honey out of the rock,
and oil out of the flinty rock; Butter of kine,
and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams
of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat
of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst
drink the pure blood of the grape.

And a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods,
wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees
in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled,
and became fat,
and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

~ ~

From the King James Bible: Isaiah 51, 55 ;
Nehemiah 9