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X. Alexandria and Canopus
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lights upon the water, flutes and sistra
floating pleasure-barges, palaces
beside the dim canal
summon up once more those shadowed walls
summon up once more that sun-baked brick
summon up that fantastic brazen sea
the delta a moving sheet of molten silver
the boat a burning ladle suspended
from the muted dome of the leaden sky
into a crucible of shimmered heat
wherein we must bake and burn
and slowly wither
at the hands of fire and water and air.
the city when it appeared
was like a sunken mass of glowing coals
the islands fiery embers
in the heat-haze of the river
who has not seen his private dream
his most elaborate fantasy of love
mirrored in these symbolic waters?
the emperor's arm was round antinous
as they glided to the landing-stage
hidden behind their silken purple curtains.
'welcome to alexandria' he said
as he kissed the boy
the city stands at the precarious wavering edge
where land and water combine
and sand-banks daily shift
where sudden visions and overwhelming ecstacies
cast down the solid foundation
teetering on the razor's edge
dividing time from eternity
in one huge wash
in the magic library
illuminated papyri
touched by aesthetic trembling hands
burst the grasp of temporality
blaze before the emperor's initiate eyes.
across the waters of the echoing canal
you may hear those songs and psalms
sung here for a thousand years
in praise of great osiris, isis, seth
antinous' deep eyes are turned to watch
canopean revellers entranced
by wine and sex and fragrant blossom
the scent of egyptian spices on the air
floating down the blue canal
to a long evening's revelry
his lovely limbs enswathed in a spangled veil
* * *
'she will be treated with respect'
the emperor later wrote,
remembering alexandria.
'let no hands divorced from piety
approach her firm yet fragile sensuality.
breathe softly on that flickering flame.
watch in the magic mirror
the features of the acolyte transformed
worshipping her triumphant strength
upon his shapely trembling knees
(so kneeled the beautiful youth).
accept what she most bountifully gives,
enter the sentient flame,
in a fiery conflagration
shoot across those mystic dancing waters
'alexandria alexandria!
consummate mistress of the world of form,
perfect dream founded in reality
where he and i became a single living entity.
you stand at the edge of chaos
you tamed the beasts of canopus
you paid the flesh its due.
you dance upon the depth
you leap the seething gulf of nescience
the blight is held beyond your boundaries.
in each others arms and in your arms
we fixed our longings
in one pure marble form
and made our love a deathless living thing'
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Note: The painting is 'The Consummation of Empire' by the American artist Thomas Cole.
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