Village Square

By

 

Ugonna Wachuku   

 

Prologue:

 

Scene one:

 

On the Kafue river there is peaceful silence and beauty of

the spirit. It is a bountiful silence of the birds and

nature. Suddenly, a bald eagle of Igbo extraction lands

on a slowly moving canoe. A welcoming sun emerges from the

cloudy sky with refreshing warmness so overwhelming. The

birds let out soothing songs with natural, enthralling

rhythm. Kafue river blooms with radiant life unfathomable.

The bald eagle has landed. I have landed indeed, on my way

to breath-taking Zambezi river. But now, I must do first

things first: The birds and Zambia's spirit on ancestral

river-paths have asked me to do this tribute for her whom

I specially call Zambezi lady in every manner. She is movingly

there, clad in beauty and rainbowic waterfalls. My Canoe is

moving slowly on Kafue river; but soon, I will soar to Zambezi

river with loving strength and hopeful vision. Welcome to this

enchanting world of creative refreshment, cherishment and

humane upliftment.

 

Scene Two:

 

To the birds and nature, to humankind, to Zambia's spirit on

ancestral pathways of home, to that powerful spirit of gentle

creative wildness, to her and the muse that she is,

I finally say, with my bald eagle heart, here is the

epic tribute:   

 

At the Village Square:  

 

There will be moonsongs tonight

at the village square where

humanity awaits the coming of

her bountiful, new dawn.

There will be birds songs

for the eagle and for you.    

 

River birds will come when

her silent stream whispers

into the yearning night.

Tonight, the ancestral eagle

will be there at the first

beam from your mindful moon,

Zambezi Lady.

 

When the last river birds arrive,

you shall be there for the calm

beginning. Blue clouds will mingle

with dews and stars of the charming

night while we await that touching

word from the smiling stream in your

handsome heart.

 

At this village square, where angellic

voices tell your story, there will be

silent songs from the land's depth:

 

Yet, I will be there to await your

homecoming. Moonsongs will come

with earth's drum-beats to herald

your stream-smile on precious paths

of home and uplifting mornings.

New flowers will bloom into the

naked night; beckoning nature's

sweet scent from your soul's

coming dawn and beauty.

 

Remember, tonight, before

your bountiful new dawn, there

will be moonsongs from that

depth of heart in you; just for

for new peaceful, beginnings in

the land. This new hope; this new

smile that you bring to the village

square will outlive the monuments

of stone and time.  

 

And so, when you finally arrive,

Zambezi Lady,

there will be wishful waterfalls

and songful streams in your eyes.

Then, let us wait for your wishfull

waterfall in this village square

where humanity shall be born anew

to make our beuatiful blue planet

a better and more habitable home.

 

Whistling winds and swaying trees

will tell yet another story in your

bountiful name. Your footprints will

tell the pathway to nature and to

glad gardens glittering at heaven's

gate on that life-giving, narrow path.

Your wishful waterfall will stay

and the eagle will joyously watch

you walk to nature's rythmic heart-beat,

Zambezi lady.

 

On the trail of dream

drum-beats echoing from angellic hands,

you shall let us see earth's mothering

spirit and smiling soul.  

 

Then, tell me, Zambezi lady, tell

me what will your wish be in this

village square of home and peaceful hope?

Tell me beauty of the earth on heaven's

river-path, tell me, what ancestral

story will you tell us from Zambezi's

treasure trove?

 

Remember, this bald eagle

on Kafue-river-canoe is headed there for

a date with destiny and humanity.

Once again, remember, there will be

moonsongs at the village square.  

 

There will be blooming birdsongs

and the eagle will come when that

cherished beauty of your smiling

stream whispers into

humble heaven's handsome heart.    

 

Gladly, new flowers will bloom from

your beautiful, inspiring eyes,

into the eagles heart, into the

coming new morning under enchantingly

peaceful African skies of blue and

rainbow colours.  

 

Surely, there will be melodious moonsongs

tonight at the village square. Your wishful,

bountiful dawn will soon be here from heaven's

emerging horizon; while this bald eagle awaits

your simple story from the inspiring depths

of Zambezi's treasure twinkle.  

 

Indeed, this is the time of the

spirit's deep in earth's sprouting

soul and fertile farmlands seen in

the beauty of your being. There will

be peacefully wishfull waterfalls

and songful streams in your beckoning

eyes and dimple. This is just for you,

Zambezi lady, this unfathomable muse,

this...  

 

So, remember, humanity, there will be

moonsongs tonight at the village square

where the wholeness of her bountiful new

dawn will embrace us with refreshing

waterfalls! 

 

Scene Three:

 

I was breathless. My canoe was still sailing towards the new

dawn on Kafue river. Soon, I will soar to Zambezi river to

await my journey to the village square. The birds, nature

and humanity were all glad at my two scenes on the river;

just in epic tribute to her whom I specially call Zambezi

Lady, this muse, this... 

 

This is my third scene, an awakening of the soul in me,

after the prologue - my third scene for her, for humanity

and for love and that yearned oneness amongst mankind

 

which will outlive the monuments of stone and time. 

 

Epilogue:

 

Let me be

this eagle.  

And let her

be the one she

is created to be.  

 

I have followed this

natural path on a voyage into

Zambezi's heart. My weather-beaten

canoe still sails on the Kafue - for her,

for humanity and for the renewal of

earth's dying environment.

 

Therefore, when all the sheaves are

brought in, let us rise and herald heaven's

caring call from the bestowing brilliance of

her being on earthly river-roads. Let us rise

and embrace her bountiful new dawn because

this day, an inspiring seed has been planted

to lush natural landscapes of home in God's

unwavering love and care. This is 

 

Village Square:

 

the tribute. This is the beautiful river-road of

this outstanding Zambezi Lady. This is the blue

sky-path of the visionary eagle. Here lies an

unknown part of the soaring eagle.

May that peace which passes

all understanding refresh

your life and days ahead!  

 

Ugonna Wachuku

Geneva: Switzerland  

13 July, 2001    

 

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Cherilyn Corlione's picture

Wow! You are very talented. This is well written! Brava~ :)

Walter Bjorkman's picture

Ugonna - Got to here re-reading your critique of my "Bluebird".
Ah you are a story-teller too. This is incredibly evocative of an experience I have had. And you bring a deeper sense behind the story - when I write it is only half-intentional to do that - I don't think to give the reader a thought to dwell on, but I kinda know some will get it - do you, or do you craft it? This is on a grand scheme - which I enjoy much more than only description and makes worth reading slowly to capture all. Narrative style is this one, and starts seemingly as a travelogue, but then takes you to places in your soul!!
Bravo,
Walter

Gwendrina Howe's picture

Hello Ugonna, This is a spiritual journey that has left me speechless with admiration. The depth of profound beauty and soulful awareness lets the mind and heart soar with inspiration. The descriptive stanzas of the landscape and lady's character flow in harmony like "peace with that of The Holy Dove", or The rhythm of the fishing boat with that of the sea when calmed by the Saviour's hand. You bring together the blessed gifts of nature and the human spirit. Hopefully, this beautiful lady will live in the hearts of all poets who understand and believe. Thank you again for the wonder, Wendy

vjochum's picture

First might I say, how I wish I had such a muse as Musonda these days!! One thing I do have is the knowledge of and friendship of that Igbo bald eagle, ;) At first I thought this was to be a depictment of a new journey on which you are to embark for love, back in Africa. :( Well, actually, you know I would have been very happy for you if this was the case, but, sort of bittersweet, you know. Anyway, I hear the spendor of the new life and love along the banks of Kafue. The Kafue waters sound to me, to be the rushing sounds of a new song in your heart due to higher enlightment of the soul. A beautiful song! I envision Musonda as one who with each footstep, flowers bloom on demand. A spirit so pure, her smile is but the reflections of heavens gate, and with a sway of body in motion can command the orchestrial rhythm of song from every fowl on the planet. I too would like to know her wish. I too, wish to hear the story she has to tell from her treasue trove. Your canoe may be weather beaten but, is a vessel I fear not to ride, as the bald headed eagel Captain is, a good friend of mine. A tribute so well written, it demanded me to turn off the rest of the world while I read it. Nothing else, seemed to matter.