To A Cypriot Teacher Poem by Alaa Elgadi

Composed by: Alaa B. Elgadi
21st September,2015
(Famagusta - Cyprus)

Poetry is my aesthetic ritual,
It makes me metaphysical and spiritual.
Now I am back to Famagusta, the city of the romantic ghost,
Sitting in Shakespeare café, having with it a poetic toast.
I am sipping my Nescafe and a poem coming across my mind,
Remembering you how you were elegant, intelligent and kind.
When you taught me the hidden secrets of IELTS,
In Cyprus, One of the most Romantic Isles.
I used to see the treasures of the Mediterranean Sea,
When your turquoise eyes used to look at me.
I recall your purple clothes in your IELTS classes,
And how your passion for English was on your avid glasses.
Now I am yearning for you and those interesting lectures,
And the office hours with your enthralling antique pictures.
Today, I am back to my previous Famagusta flat,
And Cyprus’s lemons have scented my welcome mat.
Here I wrote your favourite poem Flat 4,
When my country’s map was rumpled by the civil war.
That memory was a poetic Cypriot flashback,
But this cheerful item is still kept in my sack.
Here it is the badge of John Lennon, your souvenir,
From New York you got it and you gave it to me last year.
Now I am sauntering nearby the magnificent castle of Othello,
Imaging that pretty Cypriot girl’s hair as strings of a cello.
My Cypriot teacher! You know that I am very poetic,
And women and travel teach me how to be aesthetic.
Living in Famagusta is like living inside an antique,
Its narrow streets and its cafés are very unique.
Seeing a purple butterfly in the morning blows off my pessimism,
What if it was you, tremendous teacher and your optimism? .
I am still longing for those interesting IELTS morning hours,
As I always remember you whenever I glimpse any violet flowers.
I would like you to put this poem in your office as vase, please! ,
Just to breath the peaceful air of Libya in the future smiling breeze.