Qumquat,
you will not come
down to drink today
nor tomorrow
nor any day
the birds are missing your gentle presence
in the cool forest
glades
at the heat of midday
You are now a memory
a dream of the trees and savannah
a dream of the trees and savannah
an echo of a song
the wind whispered to the sun
of a picture
She painted when the world was born
Your well-worn trails lead now
to sad empty spaces
down at the river
at dawn
Qumquat and all the Fallen
we mourn you
you were gentle and humble
asking nothing
except to live
free as is your birthright
we mourn you
You are gone
cruelly murdered
in greed
tusks sawn from you
lives torn from
you
left in the dust
in agony
to bleed
Qumquat,
you will not raise your trunk to the sky again
to smell for the
cool summer rains
or lead your trusting family safely
through the golden-green plains
your noble silhouette is missing
against the setting African sun
the full Moon
shines down for you
but you are gone
you are gone
Qumquat,
we honour your
spirit as a pure chord
sung in a Divine chorus of birdsong
as a brilliant green ray on the rainbow
after the storm
the light of the world is now muted
even the stars look
dimmer and forlorn
We are the richer for you having been amongst us
and the poorer for your passing
And if at all you watch over us
from a place much
kinder to you and yours
please forgive
us
and in these darkening days
send the angels down
to light the way
Home.
Qumquat and all the Fallen
we mourn you
you were gentle and humble
asking nothing
except to live
free as is your birthright
we mourn you
© 2017
© 2017
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