Eight-line Poems

Africa

Africa

Overhead, the sun reigns in a cloudless sky
and the afternoon heat shimmers the stagnant air
above the desiccated field of tall, yellow grass.
Life pauses for breath, panting in the shade,
only the ant daring the baked red earth,
armoured against the furnace in shining black carapace.
A sound like metal on stone breaks silence,
“Chink, chink, chink,” the guinea fowl speaks peace.


Line count: 8
Free verse
For Express It In Eight, 05.19.21
Prompt: Write an 8-line poem that has exactly eight words in each line.