Taken Captive by Birds
By Marguerite Poland, Illustrated by Craig Ivor
Penguin Books, R225
If I had to label this book in two words I’d file it under “absolutely magical”. Marguerite Poland conjures up a nostalgic glimpse of her childhood so vividly, that I feel like I’m there with her, walking in her footsteps in the rural Eastern Cape area where she grew up.
Taken Captive by Birds is more than just a collection of essays with beautiful illustrations of birds; it’s sublime artistry in which Poland’s written word celebrates with gorgeous illustrations by Ivor Craig, who certainly has an eye for detail and the lifelike renderings of his subjects.
Poland has an almost preternatural awareness of he world around her, and her birds act as touchstones which trigger sometimes poignant memories – be it the somewhat sinister owl that reminds her of a tragedy; the swallows that nested in an old cottage where the manager of a farm lived; Alfred Banda and his stories; and the bokmakierie that reminded Poland of her misgivings with regard to horse riding.
Underpinning this book is the realisation of the ephemeral nature of life. Poland’s reflections are tinged with sadness, for we can never return to these times, and perhaps when we live in the moment, we never truly appreciate what we have until we view it in retrospect. People pass in and out of our lives, they are born; they die; and we eventually raise children of our own.
Central to this book is memory. We are shaped by our experiences, and in returning to our past, we are able to gain a better appreciation and understanding of the present. Poland’s book spoke to me of my own childhood, of remembering the particular call of doves or the cry of the hadeda ibis, and what they mean to me framed by my own context.
She captures the essence of an era that would otherwise be forgotten, and gives readers a glimpse into a world where British culture meets Africa, and a synthesis exists for a while. By the time I leafed through the last few chapters I got a little choked up when I knew the inevitable end arrived. This book you can cherish.