(AFTER CAVAFY) EXPECTING THE BARBARIANS

In our tents, light is umber and gold —
we invite them in –  share pomegranates,
apples, teas with spices–
for they have never known our songs and poems. 
They know nothing of our language.
Settled and comforted on pillows and carpets,
let them learn, to rhythm of loom, as threads
are woven into art, the music our voices make
and to weave, as we have always,
without a beginning without ending, a seamless
human history. Let us translate for them stories
begun in mouths of ancient rivers, and
through words so beautifully, gently spaced 
let them see places holy in our eyes.
Because they love themselves so,
because they do not know us,
because they do love themselves very much,
they assume they can war on others.
But let us surprise these barbarians,
open our tents invite them in,
share pomegranates, oranges, and teas, translate
for them stories of our lives, and poems.
This is how we will teach the barbarians to love,
we will win their love.

In their country they learned to destroy and
waste, stockpiled useless weapons
for which they want to provoke a need.
They have come here, we have heard, leaving
people to die on their streets of hunger, homeless.
In their leaders they have seen coveting and greed.
Let us feed these poor barbarians
apples, dates. When they have ridden with us on
steadfast camels, swift horses over the sands,
sat beside us in Oasis under a tree, thankful for water,
they will no longer be barbarians.

Our land was to be a solution for them.
their craving for our oil,
for domination in a market place,
and so we are a solution for them.---
but not what they expected.

(This poem (AFTER CAVAFY) EXPECTING THE
BARBARIANS      by Mary Rudge
is based on Cavafy's concept and lines as translated
by Rae Dalven, Harcorurt Brace & World, Inc, 1961,
with Introduction by W. H. Auden)

©Mary Rudge, Alameda, California