Poems

Lineage

As a child, my next-door neighbors were the pharaohs of
Ancient Egypt who left their mark on
The whole Egyptian landscape!
On this spot, the monuments built by the three Kings:
Cheops, Kefren, and Mykerinos stood tall, magnificent, and
Indestructible. Built of huge blocks of stone,
The apex topped with granite,
The pyramids fascinated tourists and were
The ideal destination for camel drivers and horsemen to take
Their riders! When people reached the plateau
Of Giza overlooking the city of Cairo,
They were not only spectators, but also
Witnesses to the legacy of past centuries.
Although modern bystanders, they, somehow, participated
In the exceptional life of the ancient Egyptians.
They glimpsed at their glory, at such a mysterious way of life,
At their extraordinary mausoleums reaching the sunny sky
Of the Egyptian desert... How fortunate was I to have such
Glorious neighbors, whose distinguished civilization
Kept my young imagination relentlessly engaged!
Who knows? King Tut, the boy King, could possibly
Have been a distant relative of mine!

© Djehane Hassouna, 2007

Rainbow of Emotions, page 12


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