Rendezvous In Samarra Poem by Dann Thomas

Words mumbled out, his face pale, ghostly cold
'He looked straight into me! ' 'I saw him, Master.'
'I could feel his hand on my heart, his eyes on my soul.'
'What? Who scared you? ' asked the worried Ruler.

'Who looked at you? Why are you shaking with fear? '
'It was 'Death', master. He was stalking me.'
'What nonsense is this, Death so near?
But, run away to Samara, take my horse and flee.'

Into the crowded marketplace, the young Ruler ran
Seeking what had scared his servant's soul.
In the dusty streets, he found Death eyeing an old man
'Why did you scare my servant like a ghoul? '

Death replied, 'Well, I was surprised to see him in Basrah,
'Coz I have a meeting, a rendezvous with him in Samarra.'




Based on an ancient Mesopotamian tale