An African Close-Up

Close your eyes for a

moment and utter the name 

‘Africa’ 

Try not to repeat 

The magical lines 

‘So long , so far away’

Just focus, on the name …..

What do you hear?

The drums of the Masai 

Or the footsteps of 

Migrating wilderbeast 

The gurgle of Victoria Falls 

Or a breeze from the Namib 

Desert ?  A Hutu Tutsi UN debate?

Or Mandela on human rights? 

A Safari ad from Tanzania 

Or the news about the 

Latest coup in Congo? 

Hotel Killings in Somalia or

Jane Goodall on the guirellas or

Mugabe on the settlers ? 

The burning of the elephant tusks or

Another blast in CAR?

A Famine in Sudan?

Or Abduction in Sierra leone?

Or land mine memorial 

In Angola? 

Terrifying tales of desert 

Sahara? 

Or a golden dance

On shifting sand dunes?

The Arab North

Or Mandela’s South?

The Spring revolution

In Tunisia or the trafiic jam

In Suez?

What do you see?

Unbelievable beauty or

Unfathomable carnage 

How can paradise be plundered by its own? 

Such charming people

Such a warm smile 

Loving heart, kind gaze 

Africa dearest , may you 

Get rid of all woes 

And rejoice your beauty 

Ancient , primitive power 

Nature ‘s bliss , human might!

May the dark face 

Come ever so close!

Pankhuri Sinha : Bilingual poet and writer. Two poetry collections published in English, two story collections published in Hindi, five poetry collections published in Hindi, and many more are lined up. Has been published in many journals, anthologies, home and abroad. Has won many prestigious, national-international awards, including Seemapuri Times Rajeev Gandhi Excellence award, awards in Chekhov festival in Yalta and in Premio Besio Poetry competition in Italy, Sahitto award in Bangladesh, and Premio Galateo in Italy for poetry in mother tongue. Also, awarded by Albania, Nigeria, Romania among others. Has been translated in over twenty seven languages.