Sitting in a big hotel in Lusaka
Very Western
Pleasant but sterile
Sitting by a lovely “water feature”
With koi and papyrus and purple flowers
And water lilies

Relaxing with a bottle of Boschendal wine
And a new book.
Served by an attentive waiter called Jeffrey

Looking forward to my safari
Tomorrow!
Wishing the time would evaporate
So I could be in the bush
Tomorrow!

And then I heard the familiar,
If exotic,
Bird song
And looked up
To see small birds
Flying into their intricate nests
In some nearby tall palm trees

I smiled wistfully
The palm weavers have welcomed me back
To my beloved Africa

(20 March 2009)

8 Comments

  1. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Thanks for sharing the cool poem, Nancy! It’s great to have you back publishing with us again after an eight-year break! SMILE

  4. Nancy McDaniel – retired from career in advertising. Volunteer: Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Board, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Greeters. Co-owner of part time contemporary African art business called Dumela. Travel to Africa on photographic safaris and volunteer projects at least once per year for past 25+ years. Love to write.
    Nancy McDaniel says:

    thanks to all my commenters – I loved this poem too and still remember writing it – at the table in the cocktail lounge on scraps of paper. while drinking that lovely Boschendal sauvignon blanc.

  5. Nancy McDaniel – retired from career in advertising. Volunteer: Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Board, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Greeters. Co-owner of part time contemporary African art business called Dumela. Travel to Africa on photographic safaris and volunteer projects at least once per year for past 25+ years. Love to write.
    Nancy McDaniel says:

    thank you Mr Carter!

  8. Nancy McDaniel – retired from career in advertising. Volunteer: Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Board, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Greeters. Co-owner of part time contemporary African art business called Dumela. Travel to Africa on photographic safaris and volunteer projects at least once per year for past 25+ years. Love to write.
    Nancy McDaniel says:

    thank you Emily and Brielle

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