Antinous & Hadrian : Alexandria & Canopus

Another from my poetic sequence concerning the Emperor Hadrian and his Bithynian lover. Here we see them together in Alexandria and Canopus. The music is from Gustav Holst's suite 'The Perfect Fool.'

Antinous and Hadrian : Alexandria and Canopus

Lights upon the water, flutes and sistra,
floating pleasure-barges, palaces
beside the dim canal.

Summon up once more those shadowed walls
summon up once more that sun-baked brick
summon up that fantastic brazen sea.

The delta a moving sheet of molten silver
the boat a burning ladle suspended
from the muted dome of the leaden sky
into a crucible of shimmered heat
wherein we must bake and burn
and slowly wither
at the hands of fire and water and air.
The city when it appeared
was like a sunken mass of glowing coals
the islands fiery embers
in the heat-haze of the river.

Who has not seen his private dream
his most elaborate fantasy of love
mirrored in these symbolic waters?
The emperor's arm was round Antinous
as they glided to the landing stage
hidden behind their silken purple curtains.
'Welcome to Alexandria' he said
as he kissed the boy.

The city stands at the precarious wavering edge
where land and water combine
and sandbanks daily shift;
where sudden visions and overwhelming ecstacies
cast down the solid foundation
teetering on the razor's edge
dividing time from eternity
in one huge wash.

In the magic library
illuminated papyri
touched by aesthetic trembling hands
burst the grasp of temporality
blaze before the emperor's initiate eyes.
Across the waters of the echoing canal
you may hear those songs and psalms
sung here for a thousand years
in praise of great Osiris, Isis, Seth.

Antinous' deep eyes are turned to watch
Canopean revellers entranced
by wine and sex and fragrant blossom
the scent of Egyptian spices on the air
floating down the blue canal
to a long evening's revelry
his lovely limbs enswathed in a spangled veil.


'She will be treated with respect'
the emperor later wrote,
remembering Alexandria.
'Let no hands divorced from piety
approach her firm yet fragile sensuality.
Breathe softly on that flickering flame.
Watch in the magic mirror
the features of the acolyte transformed
worshipping her triumphant strength
upon his shapely trembling knees
(so kneeled the beautiful youth).
Accept what she most bountifully gives;
enter the sentient flame;
in a fiery conflagration
shoot across those mystic dancing waters.

'Alexandria! Alexandria!
Consummate mistress of the world of form,
perfect dream founded in reality
where he and I became a single living entity.
You stand at the edge of chaos
you tamed the beasts of Canopus
you paid the flesh its due.
You dance upon the depth
you leap the seething gulf of nescience
the blight is held beyond your boundaries.
In each others arms and in your arms
we fixed our longings
in one pure marble form
and made our love a deathless living thing.'

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Antinous
• Hadrian
• Alexandria
• Canopus
• Holst
• Gay
• Poetry
• Charles
• Bryant

[yzraa]

wow!!! brychar66 did you do this poem??

you are an artist!!!! i've seen "the first and second meeting and i thought it was a piece of the Fernando Pessoa's poem just one question,

this voice is yours????

[brychar66]

Thank you my friend. Yes I wrote the poem and it is me reading the poem. The same with First & Second Meeting. Regards, Charles ;)

[percydovetonsil]

Praise be to you for posting this inspirational sequence. You are filling the prophecy of the Obelisk of Antinous which says:

"Love for Him fills the hearts of His followers

And the Awe of HIM is with all.

His believers raise their voices in praise when they worship Him."

[brychar66]

Thanks for your comments, I welcome them. I have just completed (rewritten) another poem from this sequence which I will be posting soon. Are you a member of the Ecclesia Antinoi? If so, please give them my regards. Charles.

[percydovetonsil]

I am indeed a member of the Ecclesia Antinoi. I have forwarded the link of this superb video to the group. Holst is lovely in the background.

[brychar66]

Yes, the right music can help so much. Thank you. I must get in touch with the Ecclesia again. I have been too long away. If they will have me!

[devoxtc]

Interesting & well recited. Ye gods, it's amazing what you can find on u-tube!

Nobody can beat Youcenar, but have you read Elizabeth Speller?

[percydovetonsil]

"He strides forth from his resting place

To His innumerable temples

All across the earthly realm.

He hears the prayers of ALL those who call out to Him ...."