Eilat

In the twilight, 
Eilat, seems deserted, some Antofagasta,
Chile's North, before my eyes.	
Bordering Jordan not far, there,
where the  hills are tinted  in blueish-grey,
at the horizon.

A solitary shadow, grey, 
the harbour of Aqaba.
Small, distant houses,
scarcely  illuminated by a  
fading sun.
Some ships in  the harbour,
towed side by side like toys.

I am crossing  the  plains,	
some Macchia, some dry thornes,
and a firm sand, giving way to my footprints.	
The  border: barbed-wire,
sandy hills, a water drench,
with  reed  growing
in mouldy water.

Here a snake, there a coot,
some water-wagtails – and I,
the only silent creatures.
I scarcely leave any tracks in the sand.
Brilliant, crystals of salt in the  
ridges, underneath, slippery, some soil.
I walk over cracked loam,
which is vaulting in edges, 
flying off.	
It  crunches, when I cross it.

High above  three planes
circle like big  cranes in the evening sun,
flying close to the border.	
Wind thrives through the reed,	
which is respectfully bending.

There, to the left, an artificial hill,
a plateau, bolders, grey, arranged in a
triangle, and above, Israel's banner,
blue-white, the star of David 
with colours already fading and -
some barbed-whire, 
carelessly floating in the 	
wind.

Ahead of me a snake is sneaking off. 
A water-wagtail  not able to fly
is resting in my hands. 
It is good to feel nature,
to inhale silence, to seem unreal,
slowly disappearing in the dark,
like the surrounding nature.
Night brakes slowly now,
with the cool wind from the North.
Stars, like shiny needles in  the darkness
piercing the sky, covering me in silence.
My dreams are drifting,
yet caught in the past.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Dietrich Avatar
January 14, 2011 at 9:34 AM
I don't know Eliat, sounds like in Isreal? Anyway, that aside, this is description at its best. You are amazing with your imagery. Luv, Andrea
Kendrick Avatar
May 13, 2010 at 11:49 AM
Excellent descriptive write and great commune with nature...Enjoyed...I looked up Woodpeckers of Europe...They are different from those here...Keep the creative pen flowing..Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my work..Sara
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