As The Sun Sets Over The Heated Planes Of The Savannah Poem by Daleen Enslinstrydom

It is almost an illusion
as if the images that your eyes do see
are too good to be true
and the antelope are gathering everywhere
as the sun sets over the heated planes of the savannah
and the wetlands of Africa.

Red becomes a startling array of different shades
and it is almost as if a painter painted in the mood
and the golden tones light up everything
and shadows draw longer
as more and more animals gather at the waterhole.

People prepare themselves for the night
and they are fetching water and gathering firewood.
There is almost some heaviness,
almost a rush to get home
and you can hear them
as they sing the songs of Africa.

The elephants are mere images of themselves
as the last sunbeam glistens on the water
and it is as if the water has stolen the sun
as its image is caught
on the surface of the water.

A crocodile warms itself in the last heat of the day
and the colours are so vibrant,
they are almost too much for your eyes to bear.
It is as if there is a fire in the sky.
Flames of red and purple and orange
dance in your irises in a beautiful array of colour
and the night draws near
while twilight sets in and brings rest
and a calmness to your eyes.

A gentle breeze goes through the acacia trees
and the sun-beetles quiet themselves for the night
and the birds sing their last song
and the frogs and the toads awake
and you can hear them bellow and croaking
and the crickets make a joyful noise
and the fires burn bright and the drums
beat out the rhythm of Africa
and the people gather and sing
around the fire that burns
like the colours of the sun.