An African Legend: White Lions & Leopards

1st Prize:
Faded Hieroglyphs by Zayra Yves




"This poem is a surreal and exceptionally powerful poem that explores tribal and ancestral belief systems, and highlights the respect and awe that lions once had. Congratulations Zayra, for this and the other poems you entered they were all wonderful to read." Michelle Stewart & Judges



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Faded Hieroglyphs

There are eternal images somewhere I have been in my dreams.
I long to return to the sands where lions roam,
sit as sun statues, and roar in the night winds.

I have heard them singing of golden rings,
of fire in my belly, while ashes and petals
blew in the alleys with yesterday's news.

Red with ceremony was the light
and women's bodies did not harden
as they stood in the shadows
watching the winos commune with jackals
and the children play with paper sails.

Among the kohl eyes and black draped women
shopping in the bizarre,

I long to wander free as a winged creature
in the shape of a hieroglyph,
in the shape of mystery, in the curve of linen…

I long to see the women in the streets
who speak to me from their eyes;
hear them as they say:

Welcome home my sister, my brother.

I feel their presence now and know that we are one.

If this life is fragile and we are often too easily broken,
then let today be the day we celebrate love, so beautifully transparent
with its perfumes and melancholy vines.

Come me with where the lions roam free
and give over your weary heart to rest in mine.

I long to be once again in ancient sands, in pristine gardens,
in God's country listening to the wild things speak.

Let us be where the journey is loving,
where the tribesmen know secrets we have forgotten.

Come with me now where the white lions are walking.
I have heard them calling your name.


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If you want to hear Faded Hieroglyphs, you may go to my web page and click on the ReverbNation link or you may go to Crowned Compassion on CD Baby and purchase it directly.I would also like to add that three of my poems are published in this magnificent collection! It is just stunning. I feel so honored to be there with the writers, artists and photographers!!!!

Amazing!!!!

www.whitelions.org
(photo is from Linda Tucker's book cover: Mystery of the White Lions

www.zayrayves.com

book is published here:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1963069