Tegwaan’s Curse, Sketch of a popular legend Options

[Thoth]

Revision 1

By dawn, the Tegwaan's eerie cries
reverberate through Zulu hills
as from the red stone kranz he flies
above the mist and morning chills.

Descending from the river's source
beyond the rock-fig's clinging root
he deftly steers his chosen course
o’er reeded vlei and serpine spruit

until at last on polished stone
where rippling streams of water flow
the Tegwaan settles to his own
and looks into the stippled glow

to see beneath those spreading rings
upon his sunlit pool of beams;
uZekamanzi’s flashing wings
encircling thrice tomorrows dreams.

Should shadows brush a visage there
then woe betide the one whose eye
looks back to meet the Tegwaan's stare;
it’s said the chosen soon shall die.

mBassa falling in the night
above the victim's house of clay
shows Tegwaan when the time is right;
three times, his call shall mark that day.

Tree times, his call shall mark that day.

Tegwaan’s Curse

By dawn, the Tegwaan's eerie cries
reverberate through Zulu hills
as from the red stone kranz he flies
above the mist and morning chills.

Descending from the river's source
beyond the rock-fig's clinging root
he deftly steers his chosen course
o’er reeded vlei and serpine spruit

until at last on polished stone
where rippling streams of water flow
the Tegwaan settles to his own
and looks into the stippled glow.

He sees beneath those spreading rings
upon his sunlit pool of beams;
uZekamanzi’s flashing wings
encircle thrice tomorrows dreams.

Should shadows brush a visage there
then woe betide the one whose eye
looks back to meet the Tegwaan's stare;
it’s said the chosen soon shall die.

mBassa falling in the night
above the victim's house of clay
shows Tegwaan when the time is right;
three times, his call shall mark that day.

Tree times, his call shall mark that day.



© WW Schwim 11December 2010





Notes for non South African readers;
Tegwaan(Zulu) is the Hammerkop heron, (Scopus umbretta) widely associated with witchcraft and deeply embedded in African Myth. Almost all the Nguni dialects use this
Uzekamanzi is the Zulu term for Dragonfly.
Vlei is a stretch of low lying grassland - sometimes marshy.
Spruit is a stream or brook.
Kraans cliff
mBassa , Celestial body.

The Khoikhoi people of Southern Africa believed that this bird could predict the future. By staring into reflections on still water, it could see those with the shadow of death hanging over them. It would then wait for the falling star which prophesies death, before over-flying the house of the affected person and calling three times.

The nDebele of Zimbabwe consider it very bad luck to startle the Tegwaan and rural Zulu herdsmen dread its call. Among certain African tribes the Tegwaan is thought to be the lightning bird of legend.

On a rock-ledge or big tree near the river, Tegwaan constructs his curiously large nest. Weighing up to a thousand pounds, it boasts four entrances, only one of which leads to the nesting chamber. Some claim that Tegwaan has an alliance with Imfezi the deadly spitting cobra whom he allows use of the false chambers in exchange for additional security.

[Larry]

Hi Wally,

Loved the tale of the legend but you've got me confused as hell. I thought that "Tegwaan" was the "Boss" or dominant male big cat in an area. Is that just a name attached to any dominant male?

I'd heard the story about anyone destroying the Hammerkop's nest would contract leprosy and that if it flew over your camp or house, someone there would die. Never read or heard about the three cries.

With your poem, you have glorified an otherwise unattractive bird. For those who are not interested in the animal kingdom, I want to thank you for the additional information supplied at the bottom of your piece.

Loved it and thanks for the insight into African's legends.

Larry

p.s. No crits or nits on this one.

[Alan]

Dear Wally,

A very interesting story, and very well put. The last line repeat adds chill ....

Love
Alan

[JustDaniel]

I love what you have done here, Wally. An excellent literary piece here, and the pictures attached to it are spectacular, especially the first one! Your footnotes are particularly helpful for us foreigners. Very thoughtful and tremendously instructive. I thank you for this along with Larry and Alan.

A couple of notes, to do with as you please:

Tegwaan’s Curse

By dawn, the Tegwaan's eerie cries
reverberate through Zulu hills
as from the red stone kranz he flies
Might 'kranz' be added to your footnotes?
above the mist and morning chills.

Descending from the river's source
beyond the rock-fig's clinging root
he deftly steers his chosen course
o’er reeded vlei and serpine spruit

until at last on polished stone
where rippling streams of water flow
the Tegwaan settles to his own
and [looks] stares into the stippled glow[.]

[He] and sees ahead [be][']neath [those] spreading rings
and sees ahead 'neath spreading rings perhaps?
[upon] on through his sunlit pool of beams;
uZekamanzi’s flashing wings
encircle thrice tomorrow[']s dreams.

Should shadows brush a visage there
then woe betide the one [who's] whose eye
looks back to meet the Tegwaan's stare;
it’s said [the] his chosen soon shall die.

mBassa falling in the night
above the victim's house of clay
shows Tegwaan when the time is right;
three times, his call shall mark that day.

Tree times, his call shall mark that day.

... and I join Alan in noting the power of your repeated closing line... though I am not fond at all of the bold.

deLighting in your sharing this with us, Daniel

P.S. I think you need to give a credit note for the pictures.... whether or not they are your own.

[Thoth]

Hello Larry,

Thanks for reading and for your comments. As far as I know Tegwaan is the name for the hammerkop heron throughout Africa and most divers tribal groups. The Myths are many and varied but the most common theme revolves around the prediction of death. Tegwaan does not actually bring death to anyone himself but can it seems bring bad luck.

Wally

[Thoth]

Thanks for popping in to read Alan. Glad you liked the repeat of the last line. Wasn't sure if it would work but I wanted the emphasis.

Best,

W

[Thoth]

Dear Daniel,

It is always great to have a crit from you as many small and sometimes big bugs are exposed. I will be posting an edit soon and most of your suggestions will be addressed.

Thank you for taking the time to do a crit.

Best, W