Anthony And Cleopatra Poem by Gert Strydom

(after José Maria de Heredia and Douglas Livingstone)

On the terrace at the palace from up high
they both saw Egypt sleep under a humid hot sky,
past some large towns and smaller villages bit by bit
oily the great river rolled toward the delta that separates it.

Now awake from where she slept in a childish pose
he felt her voluptuous body as into his arms she rose
the Roman imperator felt captive under his armor
while her madding heavy perfumed odor

invited his triumphant victorious heart
while she turned to him as if they will never part
gazed into the depths of his eyes with her face white
amid her dark shining hair and of beauty she was a sight.

In her eyes there were golden specks and in their reflection
a whole fleet of ships that was escaping into any safe direction.

[References: "Antoine et Cléopâtre" by José Maria de Heredia and "A presentiment of the Nile" by Douglas Livingstone.]