THE EUPHRATES IN WINTER
(R.A.F. Station, Habbaniya)
THE enormous wintry sky is piled with snow-clouds From which the sun streams on the yellow rushes Bordering the wide banks of the River Euphrates.
Along the bund containing the spreading water A cold wind rustles the leaves of the eucalyptus, And sways the heavy plumes of the clustered date-palms.
An Iraqi village lies at the bend of the river, Where smoke drifts up from huts of clay and barrusti ; A woman passes, bejewelled and bare-footed.
High among the clouds drones a Dakota, And faintly from a field inside the Station I hear the voices of airmen playing football.
The sun is setting over the quiet Euphrates ; The sky and the trees, the village and its people Seem timeless and unchanging ; we, but transient ; The Dakota's flight as brief as a bird's at evening, The Royal Air Force Station a night's encampment, Beside this river that flows from antiquity to eternity.
M. W. PALMER. M. W. PALMER.
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