The Cicadas Of Selimiye Poem by Sailing to windward

Can you hear the cicadas calling
Can you, can you?

Can you see the dream filled yachts
In the calm bay resting,
On silver sequins,
With moon a glowing?
Can you, can you?

Can you smell the baked earth's dusting
The pine tree's resin,
the wood fires cooking
and the hill herb's scenting
Can you, can you?

Will you answer the Imam's calling
From minarets towering,
By ancient walling,
for the Faithful's kneeling
To prayers, to prayers?

Can you picture village dogs loping
Past pomegranates ripening
And cats back's arching
at cockerels deciding
Sun's up! Sun's up!

Can you feel the warm sea beck'ning,
The people smiling,
your heart beat calming
and the future writing
can you, can you?

Do you find your mind's returning,
Your soul's in longing
With a trance like yearning,
and thoughts keep wand'ring
Back here, back here?

Can you hear the cicadas calling
to you, to you?