AFRICA’S HARSH PARADISE

WHEN THE GLOSSY BROCHURE CAME
THE OFFERINGS ALL SEEMED THE SAME
AND THEN I THOUGHT, “LET’S SEE BIG GAME”
BUT COULD THAT REALLY BE THE PRICE
OF AFRICA’S HARSH PARADISE?

IT WAS THE HARSH THAT DID APPEAL
WE’D THOUGHT IT OUT AND GO FOR REAL
WITH LIONS, ELEPHANTS AND SEAL
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WORD IMPLIES
FOR AFRICA’S HARSH PARADISE

NO-ONE COULD SAY WINDHOEK WAS TOUGH
THE HOTEL WAS NOT REALLY ROUGH
THE CASINO WAS JUST A BLUFF
I DON’T THINK WINDHOEK CLASSIFIES
AS AFRICA’S HARSH PARADISE

THE NAMIB NAUKLUFT PARK WAS GREAT
BUT EVERYTHING WAS ON A PLATE
(WHY DO FRENCH GIRLS STAY UP SO LATE)
BUT WE MARVELLED AT STAR-SPANGLED SKIES
IN AFRICA’S HARSH PARADISE

BY 4X4 TO SOSSUSVLEI
THOUGH FORTY DOLLARS WE MUST PAY
TO SEE THE DUNES THERE’S JUST ONE WAY
(IT WOULD BE HARD WORK OTHERWISE)
IN AFRICA’S HARSH PARADISE

THE MARTIN LUTHER LOOKS FORLORN
IT’S FINAL WAGONS LONG SINCE DRAWN
SO THERE IT STANDS A DREAM LONG GONE
A SORRY FAILED ENTERPRISE
IN AFRICA’S HARSH PARADISE

WE LIKED THE HANSA HOTEL’S STYLE
(I COULD HAVE STAYED THERE QUITE A WHILE)
BUT I YEARNED FOR COUNTRY MORE HOSTILE
IN COMFORT – I COULD VISUALISE
SUFFERING AFRICAS HARSH PARADISE

NEIL TELLS US ALL THE WHATS AND WHYS
THE AGE AT WHICH AN ELEPHANT DIES
AND WHY AN OSTRICH NEVER FLIES
IT’S GOOD TO HAVE SUCH EXPERTISE
IN AFRICAS HARSH PARADISE

WITH SPRINGBOK HERDS TO LEFT AND RIGHT
GIRAFFE AND KUDU – WHAT A SIGHT
EVEN RHINO – IN THE NIGHT
AND HYENAS WHO WE ALL DESPISE
IN AFRICAS HARSH PARADISE

WE HAD A REALLY SUPER TIME
IMMORTALISED RIGHT HERE IN RHYME
A HOLIDAY THAT’S BEEN SUBLIME
BUT TOMMOROW WE MUST SAY GOODBYES
TO AFRICAS LOVELY PARADISE

MICHEAL TOD AUGUST 1995