For dversepoets.com
In the movie "Out of Africa", a script which I have for all practical purposes, memorized, there is a scene when Denys Finch Hatten (Robert Redford) mentions to Karin Blixon (Meryl Streep) that there are poems written for almost every body part, but not, to his knowledge, one for the foot. The following is how is goes:
RR: There's lips, eyes, hands, face...
hair, breasts...
legs, arms, even the knees.
But not one verse for the poor foot.
Why do you think that is?
MS: Priorities, I suppose.
Did you think you would make one?
RR: Problem is there's nothing to rhyme it with.
MS: Put.
RR: It's not a noun.
MS: Doesn't matter. Along he came and he did put
MS: Doesn't matter. Along he came and he did put
upon my farm his clumsy foot.
Well, I have written one using part of her line and what else I venture to say may have been added to the poem; author Isak Denison wrote beautifully of Africa; this is an exercise in imagination and my version in the form of an exphrastic poem referencing her work...
He trekked
and hunted the desert
led bartering for tribal independence
for Kenyan territory
for Kenyan territory
He walks the red dirt path to her front door
led by scents of jasmine, coffee
beans, the sound
of Mozart,
beans, the sound
of Mozart,
An after safari post of sweet repose
where good food, wine,
a steam bath can be found
where good food, wine,
a steam bath can be found
He longs to hear her enchanting stories
her mind an almanac and he
with a fine cigar
her mind an almanac and he
with a fine cigar
He views
the porch where they
once napped and drank tea with lemon,
dusts his hat on his khaki right knee
the porch where they
once napped and drank tea with lemon,
dusts his hat on his khaki right knee
The farm not hers
except to cultivate,
except to cultivate,
the Kikuyu and Masai belonged there
She had worked the fields
started a school under the blue gum trees
on the vast plains under hot
African sun
started a school under the blue gum trees
on the vast plains under hot
African sun
humanity's cradle where wild
beasts still run
in the purple haze
beasts still run
in the purple haze
He winces, then
with one last broad step he does put
upon her farm squarely there
his left foot
with one last broad step he does put
upon her farm squarely there
his left foot
Days became years
soul mates in their world of nature,
yet he eluded planting roots
Now overlooking the antelope grazing
soul mates in their world of nature,
yet he eluded planting roots
Now overlooking the antelope grazing
he lies buried there
The lite foot lad and rose lipped maiden
would.like that o'er the farm
now reign blazing sunsets, copper,
oranges and soot
The lite foot lad and rose lipped maiden
would.like that o'er the farm
now reign blazing sunsets, copper,
oranges and soot
created from stories shared there
where once they stood
where once they stood
smiles...really cool story telling...even though he resisted roots he found his place to rest...i would like to visit africa...there is another movie this makes me think of as wll i just cant think of it...
ReplyDeleteI loved the entire presentation. Your was/is very sensory. You evoked reactions from all of my senses, especially smell. A very beautifully written piece. You demonstarte great skill.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Henry, but I'm not as convinced..;)
DeleteThanks, Brian..am wanting to write more in poetry form and less like stories tho ;)
ReplyDeleteA lovely tale, kkkkaty. I enjoyed the images here.
ReplyDeletePamela
Great storytelling, lovely images! :)
ReplyDeleteYour words made me remember, I did watch this movie ~ Like the turn towards the end of finding roots and being buried in the place one loves very much ~
ReplyDeleteKaty, I do love where your imagination took you!
ReplyDelete2 very cool poems - the joke and the story - well told. k.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely mood you set, enjoyed how you set the piece up with the poem scene. A story poem to get lost in... I think I might have to re watch the movie.
ReplyDeleteSuch a strong sense of place in this second one, Katy. And the first one is a delight.
ReplyDeletesoul mates..that comes through so beautifully...love how you describe the scene and also the atmosphere comes across beautifully...i'm not sure if i ever saw the movie but after reading this, i think i def. should watch it
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you do..smile
DeleteI saw the film when it came out, way back when ... and loved it. You've certainly captured something of the atmoosphere and mood of the film, and told much of the story too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to challenge your writing, a story well told.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite movies and the essence captured here, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool that this movie haunts you. And don't you sometimes think that the magic of the love was partly exactly because he could not put down roots -- that kept it alive. Hmmm, I wonder. (I know, said just like a man, right?)
ReplyDeleteTrue, Sabio, but in the last scenes he had intended to return to help her as she was leaving for Denmark; since his plane went down in flames we are left to wonder,if he had made it back, would they have remained close.
ReplyDeleteHis feelings were in the process of changing (the last dance they had, and he did say "I'll see you Friday" as he left for a day or two), but I don't know whether or not Karin would have married him at that point if he decided he wanted to...we will never know the answer but I like to speculate that, had he lived, they would have found mutual ground??? But another great pair, Spencer and Hepburne never married either ;-)
Oh this was so enjoyable to read. It felt like a little trip to Africa. I love the characters you describe and their story.
ReplyDelete