In The Desert Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

In the desert
I hear Voices
Voices calling far
And fast
Then fading.


I heard the Voice of Power
As a snake
Turned down
Luring me with a flute
And on its head it bore a
Golden crown.


I heard the Voice of Glory
And I saw
Merlin-like a hand that drew
A curtain where
A battlefield with groans
Lay and seeping blood and
Clay.


I heard the Voice of Fear
On top of these
Around me
As a snake I felt it draw
Yet it was just a Wind
That blows the desert sands.

I heard the voice of Suffering
And Pain
I saw a scholar work
In a poor attic in the night
In the scarce moon-light
My eyes I closed:
I saw
His discoveries
And knew that through
Suffering and Pain
You cross the immense main
On which other side instead
Of Power, Glory, Fear
Lie
Civilizations one on one.
I heard the voice of Suffering
And Pain.
I heard.
I felt.
I pained