Cape Town sparkles as a shining Tanzanite on the edge of the world. I feel as though I have wings.
I hear Courtney’s voice and Rebecca’s laughter.
I sit in the small courtyard of our house on Hershel Road
and absorb the majesty of Table Mountain
while I soak up the summer sun.
The cool wind is refreshing and promises a clear night sky
that will illuminate the brilliant colors:
fuchsia and lemon, and turquoise,
of the houses in the Muslim quarter of Bo Kaap
– all with tidy white trim in the Cape Dutch style.
I am surrounded by exotic flowers:
Bougainvillea, Hibiscus, Plumeria,
and others I do not have the words to name.
The air is rich with the scent of their blooms
commingled with the warmth of ripe tropical fruits and fragrant spices.
I savor the enticing flavors of hot samoosas and fresh mangoes and pineapple.
Mimi’s beckons me to come enjoy a soothing cup of rooibos.
My home for a short time,
I try to familiarize myself with this strange mélange
of chaotic combis and serene beaches.
I love this dynamic place of quiet corners
and bustling metropolitan life.
I want to go back.
