Alexandria

Long before Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians and Greeks, Before Hammurabi, Sargon and Ramses ruled The world below their feet; Before biblical scenes and mythological dreams Of magical carpet rides, I knew you back then Where sea breezes begin And history was a gleam in your eye... Alexandria, Alexandria, city of pleasure and pain, They called you Ricotis as I recall Earth Mother once called you by name. Nestled on the Mediterranean Sea of monsters, Pirates and explorers renowned, You were not much more than desert floor Until the conqueror came to town. Alexander, Alexander, God-man, ruler-thought divine, Sailed by your winds where the world begins And knowledge was born and thrived. In the halls of those palaces and places He built from his own vision quest, To rule a world of enlightened beings Where all people could achieve their best. Though he never quite saw your white marble walls, With pillars of gold and blue; Of the Serapeum filled with scholarly souls Recording their own world view. He never knew Pythagoras, philosopher, scientist extraordinaire; Or the historians Philo and Josephus And the volumes of memories they shared. The early Christians, Church Fathers and Saints Origen, Clement and Mark; Alexander never knew what he finally did When he gave you that worldly start. You’ve seen the Pharos come and go, Dynasties crumble and fall; Romans and Greeks swept right off their feet And Cleopatra’s castle walls. Pagans, Jews and Christians too All vying for your love; As whispering winds of Freemason friends Tell of Hermes below and above. While Islam and Mohammed rule In the shadow of the Sphinx, Pyramids and temples filled with hieroglyphs And obelisks that make you Stop and think… Alexandria, Alexandria, city of pleasure and pain; So little I’ve spoken about you today Compared to all I’ve gained. Since the first day I once met you In that dream so way back when… Alexandria, Alexandria, so glad we’re still Good friends.