The Inside Assyria Discussion Forum #5

=> MY DREAM - A POEM

Posted by W Gabriel Dinkha (Guest) mar35@bigpond.net.au - Tuesday, June 12 2007, 14:17:25 (CEST)
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MY DREAM

Last night as I lay my head to rest
I travelled back in time,
To ancient Mesopotamia
A land I considered mine.

I wandered through the city of Nineveh
I danced above the Nineveh Plains,
I swam in the Euphrates and Tigris
As its history ran through my veins.

I browsed Ashurbanipal’s library
My excitement – I could not contain,
Cuneiform tablets – all neatly set out
According to subject and name.

I was amazed at the sight of King Ashur
So strong and so proud of his land,
He smiled as he showed me the lion he’d killed
The blood was still on his hands.

I sat by the rivers of Babylon
I could not believe I was there,
I had gone back in time – more than 6000 years
Its beauty – unspoilt and rare.

I stared at the Lion of Babylon
Amazed by its stature and size,
I ran for my life – as it started to roar
A decision I thought to be wise.

I saw Nimrod at the Tower of Babel
Nebuchadnezzar - at the Gate of Ishtar,
The books I had read – were now coming to life
The reality was something bizarre.

I watched Gilgamesh wrestle Enkidu
As they battled for power and might,
But in the end formed a powerful friendship
After a fierce and blood-thirsty fight.

I bargained with merchants in the markets
I traded with silver and gold,
I ate dates with a man – with a feather in his hat
Who looked more than 100 years old.

I relaxed in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
I sipped wine from a jug made of clay,
I read proverbs from the wise man Akhiqar
Who always knew just what to say.

I drank tea with the Queens of Assyria
Shamiram and Goddess Ishtar,
Atalia – the Queen of King Sargon
What powerful women they are.

I gained wisdom from King Hammurabi
Who showed me his new code of laws,
All neatly inscribed – in tablets of clay
All written for a purpose and cause.

I witnessed the demise of the Israelites
Which started from Tiglath Pilaser,
And ended with the might of King Sargon
Sennharib and King Shalmanaser.

I sat with the kings of this empire
We spoke of protecting this land,
King Nimrod , King Ashur and Tiglath Pilaser
King Sargon and King Ashur-Dan.

I awoke to the sound of alarm bells
A state of confusion set in,
I sat on my bed with my head in my hands
Thinking about where I had been.

I wanted so much to go back there
It was real – or so it had seemed,
But I had to admit – that these heroes I’d met
Were only alive in my dreams.

I reached over and opened my history book
Like I’d done many times in the past,
It was painful to see – my Assyrian King
In a museum now trapped behind glass.

The king who had once been the greatest
Who’s voice shook the mountains and hills,
The king who once ruled an empire
Now a prisoner – silent and still.

The cities of Nineveh and Babylon
Demolished – completely destroyed,
All that is left is a mountain of dirt
The teardrops – I could not avoid.

How sad I felt for my ancestors
They fought so hard for this nation,
Without them we would never be known
As the Cradle of Civilization.

I threw my book down in anger
And all I could feel was the shame,
After all that our ancestors had done for us
We still can’t remember our name.

W Gabriel Dinkha

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