The Red Cliff Poem by Elia Michael

High on a stony red crag
On a jutting promontory
Overlooking Med's blue sea
Here dreamily does time lag

Shimmering to the sun's citrine
Hues blue green and in between
The sea laps shore's rounded stones
In soothingly shushing tones

Here there a bird does alight
From acacia bush to shrub
Honeyed songs amid the scrub
Simple songs of glad delight

Upon rocky stony ground
Masses of flowers yellow
Reflect Sun's glory around
Colour-fraught nothing mellow

Cyclamen in miniature
In their holey rocky homes
Flowers shy in demeanour
Pale pink in rocky thrones

Here and there common thistle
Amethyst crowns will yet bloom
And reign when summer comes soon
Now just green spikes and bristle

Here and there lizards yet warm
Lie still, basking in sunlight
Awaiting insects to swarm
In bright Apollo's full might

In reverie I reflect
On your shining foamy sea
Sad that in your dialect
This can't be - Aphroditi

Thanks O Kypris thanks to thee
For this sacred promont'ry
Set upon your foaming sea
For this my sanctuary