The Erythrina Tree. — A Carol of the Woods
Bright, glorious Erythrina tree,
Queen of the forests near the sea,
Herald of springtide wild and free,
Thy scarlet blossoms reared on high
Above the woods in beauty lie,
Tinted in russet-purple dye.
While morning beams in laughing glances
Are quivering amongst thy branches
And glowing flow’rs as day advances.
Bright, glorious Erythrina tree,
Queen of the woods beside the sea,
Haunt of the sun-bird and the bee.
’Neath sunny skies they feast for hours,
Quaffing sweet nectar from thy flow’rs,
Whose scarlet petals fall in showers.
On dark and amethystine wing
Flitting from flower to flower they sing
Their joyous songs to thee in spring.
A shower of ringing notes on high
Apparently from out the sky,
Descend to earth all merrily.
While the Cicada’s ceaseless strain
From day to day—again, again,
Is heard through forest, dell, and lane,
Thrilling the woods, a wild refrain.
Bright, glorious Erythrina, how
Thy scarlet blossoms clothe each bough,
The “Red man”30 of the woods art thou,
With thy broad banner floating free,
Proclaiming “seed time” silently,
To each dark aborigine.
No written calendars have they,
Thy early flow’rs brook no delay,
The season due, for toil all day.
When Kafir maids with hoe in hand,
Off to the fields a cheerful band—
They go to plant umboua31 land,
Singing a wild, wild roundelay,
While o’er each pick32 the sunbeams play,
Working in time—the livelong day.
Bright, glorious Erythrina tree!
As time flies imperceptibly,
The spring’s precursor thou shalt be.
High o’er the forest dark and green,
Thy crown of beauty will be seen,
While sweeping seasons intervene,
And many a field of golden corn
Spread over sloping hill and lawn
Shall ripen on each jocund morn,
And many a brilliant sun-bird’s song
Shall echo the lone woods among,
While red-winged Lories pass along,
And from the shadowy depths below,
Their deep-toned notes in cadence flow,
As sounding through the woods they go,
Far from the busy world away,
Where, singing, toils the bee all day
’Mid the deep woods where sunbeams play.
Bright, glorious Erythrina tree!
Remote from cities—near the sea
My winged thoughts have flown to thee.
Queen of the woods! I love thee well,
Oh! for a home with thee to dwell
For ever in the forest dell.
From life’s stern battle would I hide
By some bright sparkling fountain’s side,
Regardless of all time or tide,
Forgotten be the world’s wild roar,
The turmoils of her care-worn shore—
Oblivion shield me evermore,
My canopy the sheltering trees,
My dream—the song of birds and bees:
Good-bye to all things—saving these.
M. E. Barber.
Grahamstown, March 9, 1884.
Notes
1 Johannesberg.
2 Utíko,—Hottentot name for God.
3 A branch of the Kat River.
4 A musical instrument peculiar to the Hottentot tribes.
5 Stound—a sharp pang, a shooting pain.
6 The zebra is commonly termed Wilde-Paard, or wild horse, by the Dutch African colonists.
7 The Bushmen consider the locusts a great luxury, consuming great quantities fresh, and drying abundance for future emergencies.
8 Caffer name for the yellow-wood tree.
9 Name given to the missionary, Van der Kemp, by the Caffers.
10 Mountain between the sources of the Kat and Koonap rivers.
11 Kraal or cattle-fold; also a native village or encampment.
12 “Sons of Umláo” is the Caffer name for the Colonial Hottentots.
13 Indódo or Indôda Intába, i.e., the Man Mountain, is a conical peaked hill, so called from some resemblance it is supposed to bear to the human figure. It is also known as “Slambie’s Kop.” It is in the King William’s Town District.
14 Katberg Mountain.
15 Burns.
16 Many brave colonists fought among the Burghers, and such names as those of White and Bailie (1835-6) will ever be remembered. Few survive of the early settlers who had to battle against the first difficulties and dangers. Such names as those of Godionton, Chase, Wood, Cock, and Cawood occur to every one.
17 See “Sartor Resartus” passim.
18 Query, on the “Banks”?—P. D.
19 ’Tain’t nutmegs at all. Oh what ignorant coves
These authors is! Bishop’s port: lemon and cloves.
Printer’s Devil.
20 Horn’s Neck, Magaliesberg.
21 “My uncle, here are small oranges” (or “Mandarin” oranges).
22 Born in Africa of European parentage (originally).
23 “Ah! yes, I thank you much.”
24 A “transport driver” or carrier.
25 A home-made sofa.
26 Estate.
27 “Nephew, you can take her.”
28 Speaker Brand.
29 I publish this piece at the request of several friends, but cannot suffer it to go forth with all its imperfections, without putting forward as an apology for them the fact that it was written when the author was very young, and ignorant of the rules of composition.
30 Amakosa Kafirs are called “Red men,” as they are coloured with red clay.
31 Indian corn.
32 Hoe.