Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Steve Ely

DEIR EZ-ZOR

DEIR EZ-ZOR

DEIR EZ-ZOR

Four rivers of Eden;
Hiddekel, Pison, Gihon, Euphrates.
Adamu’s garden, a woman picking fruit
in the cool of evening,
unfathomed darkness of stars.

Four rivers of Al Jazirah;
Colap, Kharbur, Al Furat, Nahr Dijla.
Ashurbanipal’s garden, orchard and well,
maiden awaiting her lover’s sweet song.
Did he arrive? Shrikes are hunting
through the olive groves, spearing
nightingales on branches.

Jahannam’s four rivers;
salt-tears, urine, diarrhoea, blood.
Zeki Bay’s garden of knives.
Women cooking grass. Children
licking moisture from stones.
Close

DEIR EZ-ZOR

Four rivers of Eden;
Hiddekel, Pison, Gihon, Euphrates.
Adamu’s garden, a woman picking fruit
in the cool of evening,
unfathomed darkness of stars.

Four rivers of Al Jazirah;
Colap, Kharbur, Al Furat, Nahr Dijla.
Ashurbanipal’s garden, orchard and well,
maiden awaiting her lover’s sweet song.
Did he arrive? Shrikes are hunting
through the olive groves, spearing
nightingales on branches.

Jahannam’s four rivers;
salt-tears, urine, diarrhoea, blood.
Zeki Bay’s garden of knives.
Women cooking grass. Children
licking moisture from stones.

DEIR EZ-ZOR

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère