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    Whispers of Africa
    Whispers of Africa
    Whispers of Africa
    Ebook164 pages1 hour

    Whispers of Africa

    By Ray Harris

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    About this ebook

    Whispers of Africa is a unique combination of the arts of drawing, writing and poetry with the aim of bringing the animals of Africa to life in the reader’s mind.
    Whispers of Africa began its life when the author, Ray Harris was asked by a friend to whom he owed much, if he would do a series of animal pictures for him. His friend, Tom Jordaan was making coasters from toughened glass, and wanted images of the ‘Big Five’ for the purpose of screen-printing the images onto the glass so they could be fired into the coasters and sold in sets. The proviso was that they had to be clear images done in monochrome. Ray, anxious to repay his friend, set about doing his best. As it turned out, he did far more than was required, and the images turned out to be so finely detailed that they could not be effectively screen-printed.
    The result of this was that Ray filed the drawings away with many others he’d done previously, and forgot about them.
    Prior to this, Ray spent hours in the quiet evenings at sunset, doodling and writing short sketches and prose with a poetic flavour, as the mood took him. These too were filed away and forgotten.
    Then one day, sitting on a rock on the edge of a mountain cliff, he was inspired by the antics of the Baboons in the area, to write a poem capturing the spirit of the Baboon rather than just noting down facts. He was quite pleased with the result, and went on to write a few more poems about some of the animals of Africa that he knew so well.
    A year or two later, on a farm in the Northern Transvaal, he was stalked by a leopard, and escaped the situation, outmanoeuvring it through his knowledge of the animal. It was nevertheless a frightening experience, and in his somewhat shaken state, he had an epiphany – to bring together the images, prose and poems of the animals of Africa and produce it in book form. Whispers of Africa is the result.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRay Harris
    Release dateJun 16, 2015
    ISBN9781311706119
    Whispers of Africa

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      Book preview

      Whispers of Africa - Ray Harris

      As with every book, the author can seldom claim sole input to the work – there are always those indispensable people in the background who provide support and invaluable assistance in order for the book to be born.

      This book is no different, and in that, I have two main people to thank:

      The first person is my wife’s brother, Ian Raper, who is a Professor Doctor of Linguistics, specializing in Afrikaans poetry. He has lectured all over the country and in overseas countries as well. He is also a member of The Earth Organization, which coincidentally fits in here so well.

      I have always aspired to writing poetry, because I believe it’s a romantic way of capturing the spirit and essence of something that is difficult to describe in normal terms. The trouble was, that I had no idea whether my poetry was any good. As such, I asked Ian to check a few of the poems that appear in this book, to see what he thought.

      I was most pleasantly surprised when he gave his nod of approval. His suggestions and comments were invaluable, and his encouragement has led to this unusual combination of the arts of drawing and language. My undying thanks go to him for his assistance. In this, it should be known that any mistakes and shortcomings are mine alone.

      A special thanks goes to my wife Sharon, whose tireless enthusiasm has often rescued work that I was tempted to throw away. She has been there for me on so many levels, and has always been willing to drop what she’s doing on the turn to assist me with grammar and composition, amongst other things. Her arm around my shoulders and kisses on my crown are not forgotten, as they encouraged me to work deep into the nights, often when I was in no mood to do so. Her clever and bright insight to the messages I intend to convey, has buoyed the long tedious periods required to produce something first class. God bless her for who she is!

      It is my hope that through the assistance of these two special people, that the viewers/readers may hear the subtle ‘Whispers of Africa’.

      FOREWORD

      I have served my apprenticeship in the highest institution on earth – Nature!

      My intimate knowledge of the natural world in Southern Africa, as well as my deep connection to this strange land, has given rise to the impulse to develop my artistic talents and also to express them in the only form of language that can truly capture the soul of Africa and its inhabitants - Poetry.

      But have I qualified? Immerse yourself in the imagery of this book, and judge for yourself!

      In support of what you will experience, I offer this:

      I grew up in the wilds of Africa, of which a great deal of my early years were spent in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, where I was privileged to come into contact with the animals and other creatures in their natural environments; gaining access into areas of Africa that have been untouched by the hand of man.

      I have a deep and intimate knowledge of virtually every animal in this land. I know their natures, their characteristics, their variations of colour and form. I lived in their habitats and have a deep insight to their motivations. I know their moods as well as what drives and affects them. I know the feel and texture of their skin and fur, and understand how their movements and muscle- tone affect their cloaks; how shape and form changes in various light, and indeed how the very wind affects these movements.

      I have hunted and killed some, wrestled some, been in danger of being killed by some, rescued some, reared some and released them. I have even befriended some without taming them and within their own environs, often at the risk of my own life.

      I have been so close to Earth Africa, that I am able to dismiss many common views regarding the creatures of Africa wild.

      I am even privy to the existence of one, possibly two, animals that the world does not know about – and it will stay that way. The images of these unknown animals will be included in later editions.

      I feel the pulse of the land so deeply, it is virtually spiritual… mystic. It emits a primordial vibration so addictive, that there is no cure for it.

      Many notable people have visited Africa and stayed, or return time and again because of its strange spell.

      The extent of this African ‘sickness’ goes beyond logic, for not all of the experiences to be had here are pleasurable.

      I have been stung by scorpions, ants, ferocious hornets, swarms of African bees, and a host of other ‘nasties’.

      I have been bitten by spiders, mosquitoes, snakes, carnivores, bugs and leeches… even indigenous people!

      I have been trampled, gored, butted and kicked. Poisoned by contact with plants, food and even the wood that cooked it.

      I have suffered the sap of the Euphorbia that itches like the merry devil, as well as the maddening effects of the fiberglass-like Brandboontjie (Burning Bean), nettles and Wait-a-bit bushes.

      I have been jabbed and stabbed by everything from sword grass to devil thorns and six-inch long thorns of the Acacia, to name but a few.

      I have contracted Bilharzia from swimming African rivers, dodged malaria (so far), and even survived clinical death!

      I have suffered abrasions, cuts, bruises, breaks, impacts, sickness and even Poetsie fly, the eggs of which give rise to

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