Mosi-oa-Tunya
for Marion & Ife

able to whisper to me
from ever so deep
in the mystery, in the majesty
that is Africa

outside of where she's staying
in Zambia, able to hear
the booming downpour
of Victoria Falls

able to hear the thunder
mist in Africa is able to make

this sound like rain fall
outside her windows
outside her doors

downpour which never stops
weeping which is unending
eternally mourning for mankind

this waterfall
one of the kindest occurrences
on the continent, on the planet

present so near to it
able to whisper to me about it

in a note, in an e-mail
able to wave to the Caribbean
from Africa

as well I hear
a herd of elephants trumpeting

this orchestra of musicians
trampling along
upon plate-sized hooves


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2009
10:13 p.m. 24.04.09