The Egyptian

From youth my flair to tiller bound
for I a river man.
When we to sail the mighty Nile
in how her spirits ran.

Our canvas raised to morn’s esteem,
a gallant wind to run.
My love and I, our skills employed,
though she the finer one.

And she must have the kindest smile
that I have ever seen.
A trait of her Egyptian blood,
perhaps some pharaoh’s queen.

When we first met, I blushed dismayed,
such charming company.
For I not prone to courtesies,
yet she did lean toward me.

Of weaving waves of raven hair,
of sincerity, her eyes.
A poise imbued with eastern charm;
what poet could visualize?

From fisherfolk, her kin and skill;
was raised to read the wind.
To till the flow, take care the lee;
all tied and neatly trimmed

The ending day and wearisome,
we should, a mooring find.
Obliged a breeze, a welcome bank,
for there our hopes inclined.

A haven found, a shady grove,
where we to while away.
I took to gather kindling be
and she, her art display.

Beheld her, ’neath a princely palm,
where she to spicing lamb.
Her busy hands inspiring rice
with threads of za’faran.

She offered me the finest fare,
such wonders, she did bring.
She sought, not once, to praise herself,
of only me, she’d sing.

We shared her arts with heart’s delight,
we dined like we of yore.
’Neath evening skies when stars appear,
as oft‘ folk done before.

When stole, she did, from me a kiss,
how could I not respond.
The Nile in shroud for of her night,
of here and all beyond.

Seduced the dark to calm and charm
when flames to embers gone.
Our night, the moon, an easterly,
all fashioned from the One.

To praising I, the pyramids,
the Sphinx, such artistry.
She smiled and whispered in my ear,
“I am of what I see.”

She spoke to me of desert winds,
the dunes, the crocodile.
Of falconers and cameleers,
the egrets of the Nile.

Yon caravans and Bedouin,
of dhows upon the sea.
She spoke to me and she did smile
when leaning into me.

And we made love as love is one,
and we to slumber there.
And all the while the river flowed
into her own affair.

To warblers’ song, a hoisted sail,
the Nile in morning blest.
To till her flow, my love and I,
whatever her request.