When you lived by the Sea.
Down the steep road you went
round the corner, heaven sent.
The long ‘corniche’ and turquoise sea
’twas brilliant sun, when you took me.
With the crowds in summer haze
we joined the throng just to gaze,
little brown boys having fun
chasing in the hottest sun,
and then we stepped, as you took my hand,
along those brilliant, hot white sands.
~
The turkish man with tray on head,
brings the pastries, as you bid,
on kites that fly in cobalt sky,
and when we talked, you and I,
of the future that we planned,
‘snooty’ camels passed at hand,
when you lived by the sea.
~
Snacks from Mama’s cabin there,
we sat in ‘ garland ribboned’ chairs,
little pots of tasty treats,
houmus, tabullah, syrup sweets,
games of cards with sharper boys,
dark skinned men, selling toys,
children laughing, happy fun,
smelling sweetly of the sun.
Yatching club at half past three
always there in time for tea,
when you lived by the sea.
~
Down that steep road we went
round the corner heaven sent.
On the side ‘Old Cecil’ stood
crumbled then, but very good.
Gordon’s Gin they found us there ,
and as we sat in rattan chairs,
breathing in that steamy air.
Silver trays with glasses bright,
we talked and talked into the night,
the punka fan whirled and swayed,
and in the night, I always stayed,
when you lived by the sea…
when you lived by the sea in Alex….
@ Copyright 2006
Photos courtesy : Matt Rutherford
All rights Reserved.
All rights Reserved.
Jenny
You can almost feel the heat and the magic of that place – wonderful!
Susie Hemingway
How lovely that you were able to feel just how special in those days, Alexandria was, to both of us. Thank you Jenny.
Claire
They are so good, they made me cry, I think you have a gift.
Susie Hemingway
Thank you Claire – but I don’t want to make YOU cry.
Anonymous
Susie
you wrote this with your feelings and desribed the very details of Alexandria as if every mement you spent it there was a moment to remmber and that was very clear when you mentioned the very small details of the old Ciecil Hotel fans. Just one thing , i would pull your ear instead of Hamada for that mistake , you didnt post photos for Alexandria , Alexandria beachs or Alexandria at night with the moon reflecting its lights on the water and turn it to silver
Susie Hemingway
Dear Anonymous, My apologies that I did not put a photo of Alex – but this is ‘Sharm’ and I will find a photo of Alex for you. Thank you for your lovely comments
Susie Hemingway
As Promised a photo of Stanley Bay Alexandria, added at top.
Sayeed M
This is my country it is a good feeling in this writing very good
Susie Hemingway
Thank you very much Sayeed, I am so glad you liked this poem
Cyrus
A great poem you can just feel the atmostphere All the best Cyrus
Susie Hemingway
Many thanks cyrus
Anonymous
That's a beautiful web site you've created!and your poems!
I see that your husband grew up in Alexandria. I grew up in Jordan
and now live in Cyprus. (I'm half Palestinian and my husband is Cypriot).
Several years ago, when I was pregant with my second child, I went
to read poetry at the Alexandria Library. I was only in Alexandria
a few days, but it was beautiful – I fell in love with it. My husband
had never been to Egypt and so this past spring we went on a short
trip there with our kids – a few days on the Nile and a couple
of days in Cairo. It was a difficult trip – my husband got
pretty tired – but I was so glad we did it.
My very best to you and your husband!
Lisa