The River Nile , October 14, 1994.

(C) Copyright 1997, Mahmoud A. El-Gamal.

The river Nile still comes along

each day to hear his lovely song

but sitting by the river's shore

the comrades come to sing no more

they saw the soldiers in full gear

come breaking `naay's and spreading fear

and now they live in foreign lands

and yearn for burning desert sands

that cool and moisten in the night

in time for spirits to take flight

in time for stars to gather 'round

the comrades as they forge from sound

a ladder for the soul to climb

and glasses with which to embibe

the gift of water this guest brings

to every host who laughs and sings

but now that he can hear no songs

he knows not wherefore he belongs.