South African National Parks (SANParks)

Cape of Light

Crouch and listen
Along a Lilliputian trail
Porcupine!
We eye each other warily
Then go our separate ways
Up through the lower forest reaches
Dappled and cool and quiet
Slip silently over a coil of mountain track
That slithers up the slopes
Up and up and the sun breaks through
At the last fire breaks
Now the fragrant fynbos
Busy with bees and ants and birds
Eagle!
Silent sentry of the slopes
Bare bones start to show
Cliffs and gullies and waterfalls
The mountain shadow darkens the air
The climb
Lichen and moss on glistening rock
The yawning drop to the forests below
Then the top
Sun haze softens and soothes
Close to the sun, the eagle and I
In this Cape of light