The Big African Tree Poem by Kenneth Maswabi

This is not a Christmas tree
It's not a decoration to sit inside the house
It does not have lights and whatever else comes with a Christmas tree
It does not have any particular name
It is actually not celebrated at all

The African tree is a majestic icon
Every village is dotted with these supreme creatures
Every road side is intermittently overshadowed by these giants
Every african home has its own tree of choice

The African tree is passed from generation to generation
It is a place of rest and renewal
It holds intergenerational secrets
It's a place of family gatherings
The coldest spot on a hot summer day
It's a place for children and adults
It's also a place for justice administration or worship

The African tree is an air-conditioner of some sort
It is a board room for important meetings
It's occasionally a bedroom especially on those hot summer afternoons
It's a sitting room and a lounge
It's a classroom and an entertainment centre
It's a milling factory and sometimes a butchery
It can be turned into a makeshift garage
It's a place for everything

The African tree comes with different shapes and sizes
It's a fortress for both people and animals
It's loved for its cool shadow
Also, adored for its delicious fruits and nectar
Sometimes cherished for its medicinal properties
It's admired for its majestic size

The African tree is a symbol of African life
It's an icon of Africa
A revered masterpiece
Never to be cut down by men
Only destroyed by natural disasters
Or old age
It is a supreme structure
Accommodating all sorts of life
Accepting all kinds of guests

Sadly, the African tree is missing from african cities
Destroyed by progressive forces
Overtaken by Western developments
Overlooked by urban dwelling africans
Misunderstood by the new generation of africans
Associating it with evil and ghosts

The African tree is a dying specimen
Its legacy is everlasting
Captured in great african stories
Admired by botanists and spiritual healers alike
Squirrels and elephants adore it
Owls and leopards call it home
Lizards and small birds can not survive without it
Snakes are envious of this great hotel