Black Hills Audubon Society

Rondevlei

I returned to Rondevlei today,
Far too long I'd stayed away,
Each stride, relaxed, a hide I'd gain,
Steps now pleasant, after pain.

Forty pelicans in formation flying,
Sentry blacksmith plovers crying,
How this nature nurtures me,
When from society I flee.

A clan of cormorants at rest,
Roosting ibis start to nest,
A young flamingo curled asleep
While boubous through the rough grass creep.

Nineteen Night Herons with their brood,
In their favourite neighbourhood,
Carp on shallow grasses grazing,
Hippopotamus forever lazing.

Pied Kingfisher and Malachite,
Swooping down, dive out of sight
Attacking faster than the eye can see,
To catch a fish for their morning tea!

by Judith Miller

Rondevlei is a bird sanctuary in the suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. Judith Miller, who works as a senior manager in cellular telecommunications, is a poet from Cape Town, South Africa, and has had several poems published in the Mindscapes Journals 4 and 5. Judith has spent many hours watching birds in Southern Africa. More of her poems can be found on these web pages: www.uct.ac.za/projects/poetry/capepoet.htm and www.dreamagic.com/poetry/miller8.html

Send your poetry to pelican@vei.net if you would like to publish on this page