I Am An African by Wayne Visser (Video)

Poetry by Wayne Visser, Paul Cheneour on Flutes, Lennie Charles on Percussion, Photography by Bob Webzell, Video edited by Andi Beqiri. Music recorded during a live performance on 16 November 2013 in London. The poem, I Am An African, is published in "I Am an African: Favourite Africa Poems" and "African Dream: Inspiring Words & Images from the Luminous Continent". Copyright 2014 Wayne Visser

Battle of Groenkop

Groenkop - Battle of Tweefontein

You were our tormentors into the night

barns and farms burnt during the day

rage and rave, wrath and anger

against the dying morning light

 

De Wet and his guerilla force were right;

based near the settlements of hay

Boers were tough, wise and out of sight

their enemy: they did not affright

 

Your Major General deployed the 'Imperial Light'

lines of blockhouses – day to day

from infantry to regiment uptight

against the dying morning light

 

Boer leaders determined to scale the west side

15 pounder guns and a pom-pom at bay

rage and rave, wrath and anger

their enemy: they did not affright

 

De Wet scanned carefully, day by day

On Christmas day, his commando clambered the site

boots removed, ‘Stormt Burghers’ they were in fight

against the dying morning light

 

You, the enemy, were slaughtered, a carnage on this day

desperate men by night, alright?

Boers were tough, wise and out of sight

their enemy: they did not affright

-(c) Nikita - 21/12/2014

Child of Africa by Wayne Visser

Child of Africa

By Wayne Visser

I am a child of Africa –

Young and wild and free

I play on streets of sunny hope

And feed on dusty dreams

I am a child of Africa –

Young and bold and bright

I think a million sparkling thoughts

And wish on shooting stars

I do not want your pity –

For I am not a helpless pup

I do not want your charity –

For I will thrive at first chance

I do not want your mistrust –

For being young is not a crime

I do no want your prejudice –

For that is your prison not mine

You will know me

Not by the colour of my skin

But by the spectrum of my ideas

For I am Africa’s child

You will know me

Not by the name of my tribe

But by the poetry of my ideals

For I am Africa’s child

I may look young

But I am older than you

For I was born at the beginning of time

I may look weak

But I am stronger than you

For I was weaned on the milk of the sun

I may look simple

But I am smarter than you

For I was schooled at the knee of wise elders

You will know me

Not by the poverty of my means

But by the wealth of my ends

For I am Africa’s child

You will know me

Not by the shadows of my past

But by the brilliance of my future

For I am Africa’s child

I do not want your visions –

For I have dreams of my own

I do not want your fears –

For I have monsters enough

I do not want your leftovers –

For I have freshly baked needs

I do not want your playthings –

For I have imagination aplenty

I am a child of Africa

Young and shy and sweet

I smile to hide my nervous pride

And laugh with crystal joy

I am a child of Africa

Young and hip and cool

I dance my way to destiny

And rise on wings of change

Wayne Visser (C) 2014

African Pilgrimage by Wayne Visser

African Pilgrimage
By Wayne Visser



I have walked the long trail of history
And arrived at this day: triumphant!
I have worn the dead yoke of oppression
And arrived at this day: free at last!

I hear the rhythm of drums –
Will you join me in my celebration of life?
I see the colours of change –
Will you join me in my vision of hope?

I have sung the ancient song of the stars
And arrived at this time: awestruck!
I have heard the wild call of creation
And arrived at this time: expectant!

I taste the salt-sweet of justice –
Will you join me in my banquet of faith?
I feel the fire of belonging –
Will you join me in my village of love?

I have tracked the fresh footprints of nature
And arrived at this place: one life!
We are joined by the sacred web of our ancestors
And arrive at this place: one tribe!


Wayne Visser © 2014

Psalms

From the heart of God into my spirit,

Words delivered by the Holy Spirit, psalms conceived,

I hear His voice as He speaks softly in my ears.

From the heart of God into my heart,

Words delivered by the Holy Spirit, psalms created,

I hear His voice, He speaks softly in my ears.

Now from my spirit, from my heart to a piece of paper,

Words written with passion, psalms born,

To release all that is within me, I share the heart of God,

Psalms conceived, psalms created… in my spirit

Psalms born, Divine Poetry… in my heart

Writing them down, with you I share

THE BOOK OF LOVE

"Inspired by Peter Gabriel's song, The book of love"

The book of love, is long and boring,
And written very long ago
But they's so much it holds
It's like watching the night sky
And viewing the past

But I........
I loved it when read to me
And you.......
You can read me anything

The smiles we paint,
The happy tears we once had on our faces
And the moments that will forever be in precious history books, our hearts.

But I......
I loved it when you sang for me
And you.....
You can sing me anything

Life, flowers, and heart-shaped boxes
Things we are all too young to know of
Now shall we sign our names in this book
And only I hope the one laying next to you
Loves the pilgram soul in you.

But I......
I loved it when you gave me things
And I......
I was about to get us wedding rings

"The book of love, is long and boring
No one can lift the damm thing
It's full of charts, facts and figures,
And instruction for loving"

Land of Emerald Dreams by Wayne Visser

LAND OF EMERALD DREAMS

By Wayne Visser

Low clouds of grey left far behind

Exchanged for open skies of blue

Black asphalt trails and dusty fields

Give way to scenes of verdant hue

Beneath the mountain’s misty brow

Beneath the oak trees’ dappled shade

A canvass for the nomad’s brush

A staging post for passing trade

Drink in the cool of whitewashed walls

Drift off to cricket symphonies

Breathe deep the scent of sun-bleached thatch

Awake to birdsong melodies

Past craggy cliffs of rusty shards

Through hidden tracks of forest greens

Refreshed by waterfall cascades

Behold the land of emerald dreams

(2014)