[lit-ideas] Another Thursday Poem
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 22:40:36 -0800
Souvenirs
The mountains merged their substance
Into clouds and disappeared. I had my hands
Out waiting, but when the rain came
The water ran through my fingers.
My hands held nothing but the shine.
I remember most the smell
Of being there in the damp cold air.
I rushed down like rain
Making my home in Cairo,
Leaving no evidence that I'd been there -
Whatever moisture had dissipated
In the Maghreb along with
Averroes on Cairen streets
Where Naguib Mahfouz bought a cantaloupe
And hurried home. I peered through his gate
And was fended off by his guards.
One must have them today in Cairo
If one is to write honestly
Whatever one thinks. Back here
I need no guards. I've read so much
I have nothing left to think.
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