Frederick And Geraldine (Part 9) Poem by Marieta Maglas

''It's a fuel crisis, because of the lack of supply, ''
Said Athan, 'many mines exploit lead, copper, and iron.''
''They are smelted with charcoal, which only some people may buy, ''
Said Karsten, '' some people have the powers of the lions.''




'' There are heavy demands for the forests to build castles,
Cathedrals, houses, ships, mills, and machinery, '' said Cruz.
''The fuel for glass and brewing industries is on hassles, ''
Said Pedro, '' this drill of the coal deposits has an excuse.




I've heard the steam engine has a low efficiency.''
Tia said, ''overland, the costs of the transport are very high.
The English iron industries still lose their proficiency.''
Megan said, '' this revolution adds up to one big lie.''





''I've heard that, in Selanik, the Jews control the commerce, ''
Said Marco.''Greeks, Turks, Armenians, or Jews, '' said Athan,
''They can equally thrive the economy of Selanik,
Whether they read the Bible, the Torah or the Quran.''




Tia wore a fine golden silk brocade jacket having
A metallic gold floral lattice design and shape,
A petticoat of ribbed silk embroidered with silk yarn forming
Loops; its front fastened with clasps, tightened in back with cotton tape.




Karsten's navy blue, collar, cuffs, and skirts were embroidered
With cream silk 'point Beauvais' garlands of pearls and flowers.
Athan's vest of silk moiré and coat were pumpkin colored.
'Twas embroidered with silver thread and silver sequins.





Tia and Athan were in need of loans for short terms
While intending to bridge the time gap between the pay
Of the taxes and the take of the sums from the owners of some firms.
They traveled to find those wealthy Muslims that loaned money.





''People can't pay heavy taxes and accrue deficits.''
''They must pay these sums even their finances are low.''
''All these payments are done for the Empire's benefits.''
''In this condition, Selanik is a place left to go.''





‘'To prevent people from leaving, the Empire minimized
Their losses while enacting a kaskamot that obligated them
To pay and to leave behind them a guarantor.'' ''It's civilized! ''
''If the women and the orphans can't pay, the Muslims don't condemn





Them, '' ''There're allowances for the persons donating or loaning sums
And for the philanthropic acts like the payment for the abject poor.''
''They take from any owner or any visitor that comes,
From birth, from death and from the sacrifice passing their temple door.''



''Gabella is a tax levied on the purchase of a basic test
Kosher for foodstuffs like wine, meat, and cheese.''
''The rich men pay instead of the poor people to prevent their arrest.''
''There're some taxes for those goods that are brought over the seas.''



''Here, the new public buildings are built using an eclectic style
To project the European face of this Empire.
''Our monasteries are the centers of learning for a while.''
''The head of the Orthodox Christians is like a Vizier.''



(Tia, Athan, Megan, and Karsten disembarked at Selanik while Frederick and some sail men went to buy fuel.)

(To be continued...)

Poem by Marieta Maglas