Last Summer in Mashatu
Last summer in Mashatu the rains came
and the arid, red land blossomed, grass
grew higher than we had ever seen. The same
animals wandered down to the pond to drink
but their numbers dwindled and sightings
were less common. Impala and wildebeest
came daily and, in the distance, a few giraffes.
All the land became a place to drink and feast.
The red dust that once blew along the shore
was covered in dense vegetation. Grazing
animals grew fat and even their predators
no longer showed their ribs. Still, though,
elephants did come to the pond and we heard,
sometimes close, a lion’s roar. Impala walked
as skittishly as ever. Even then they feared
stalking lions and leopards we could not see.
The pond had become a wetland. Strange birds
sank to the red shore and drank. Swallows
found growing clouds of insects and the whir
of wings drowned out the chirr of countless bugs.
Ospreys, yellow-billed storks, eagles, knob-billed ducks—
so many species broke their flights to…I cannot say
where...when they found a watering source not there
only a year or two ago. They stooped to drink then flew away.
The pond changed, both as the seasons changed
and as the climate warmed. New not often seen birds
altered their old paths, flew farther north, range
extended. This summer in Mashatu—so much changed.
And now, with all the concern about copyright, and what I consider misplaced zeal, I do not think I can post here again. The Forum has become oppressive and is verhing on repressive as people are being "disappeared." The sad thing is that I truly appreciate the work NGS has put into this, but it has been a collaborative work as writing is. NGS is losing that as they lock down.
It's not Mary and it's not Lisa...they work for the folks who set the policy. So, no, I do not blame them. But when a simple word to stop posting videos elsewhere would have solved the situation, NGS decided to use a sledge hammer.
I had hoped to take a trip to Mashatu next summer. Pete invited me when he ordered copies of my little book to sell at the Curio Shop there. I sold them to Mashatu at cost...no profit. And I was planning to buy tickets. Now, I don't think so.
So, goodbye. I'll read the Forum from time to time...unless my IP address is blocked, but that's about it.
Best to all, including Mary and Lisa,
--Palmer