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