Sounds of Distant Drums

By Alfred Sandison Hutchison

This book of selected poems by the Rhodesian/South African poet ,Alf Hutchison, powerfully illustrated by his youngest daughter Fiona, reflects upon love passion hatred remorse jubilation xenophobiafriendship and mans inhumanity to man. It is a collection of mainly reflective poetry which will at times reduce the reader to tears bring joy to the heart and soul of lovers and friendsbring a sense of patriotism to the lost tribes of Rhodesia and South Africa in the Diasporabut most of all I hope and pray that it makes you think

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Sep 17, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453573297

Alfred Sandison Hutchison

Alfred Sandison Hutchison was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and raised in Rhodesia. He once recorded “There is not one single day I can honestly recall that I even vaguely enjoyed school…I loathed school with a passion” Despite this, from an early age he developed a talent for poetry and verse; winning several awards on the RBC. He is also an acclaimed gemstone cutter and polisher; cherishing the prestigious honor of having several of his gemstones displayed in the Smithsonian institute in Washington DC. During the days of Rhodesia’s unilateral declaration of independence UDI and the subsequent bush war, he, like many others his age, were drafted into the army to fight the threat of communism; this period transformed him totally, he thrived on army life and holds the dubious honor of being amongst the very first to volunteer for border duty in the Zambezi valley alongside the famed Rhodesian Light Infantry RLI…many of his writings and poems reflect this tragic time in Rhodesian history. Like many who have turned their weapons into plowshares he has found a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ and now heads up a Christian outreach program on the internet…Obadiahoutreach.org. His passion for the Lord; his passion for his fellow man; his passion of the written word… are all reflected in his poetry.

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 by Alfred Sandison Hutchison.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2010913293

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4535-7328-0

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4535-7327-3

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4535-7329-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

300598

Contents

Foreword

My Wife, My Friend

Sounds Of Distant Drums

Cowboys don’t cry

Gone

A Lion Roars

A Mother’s Thoughts

A Rich Man

A Time

A Vulture Flies

Abortion

African Missionary

African Pirates

Africa’s Hungry Children

Aids Orphans

An Author or a Poet?

Battle Of Blood River

Blinkers

Clock Of Ages

Crown of Thorns

Do You Know My Lord?

Evolution

Friendship

God’s Promise

Haast’s Eagle

Have you seen?

I must try haiku,

Job 22; 21

Lest We Forget Hunyani

Last flight of the Umniati

Lonely

Master Jack

Our African Queen

My Dad

My Friend

Painting on Auction

Reality

Remember 9/11?

Rhodesian K-Car

Salute to ‘Author unknown’

Soldier

Something wrong

Sounds of South African Drums

The Greatest Love Story

Ever Told.

The Holocaust

The Lone Piper

The Truth

The wings of an eagle

Unknown Soldier

What if?

Where are the men of the fighting fifth?

Sounds of Zimbabwean Drums

Foreword

Alf Hutchison is a poet and a servant of God. No, I take that back. Alf Hutchison is a servant of God and a poet. With respect to his servitude, Alf does so with a passion and a good spirit that speaks well for his labors in God’s fields of grain. When it comes time for God to reap His harvest, most of His wheat shall be found where Alf has tread with his gentle voice and calm manner.

But I am a poet, and I shall leave the spiritual aspects of the man to his Master. I shall speak to his poetry and creativity.

Alf was born with a gift to express himself as few others today can. He writes in the old style poetry of rhythm and rhyme of which I am so familiar and which I love with the same passion that he loves the Lord. Alf is one of the very few who can satisfy me with his verse. It reads so well that it