sheba's ethiopia

Archaeologists search for graffiti
left by giants of philosophy
Plato and Socrates
in wave-swept nooks
on the shores of Greece.

Solomon broke Sheba's arm,
took her to bed like Porter
night and days,
and a light shone
from Ethiopia to Israel.

Incense route across the desert
ports along the Red Sea
parchment and roles
in Dead Sea scrolls
long buried beneath the sand.

The shore of Adalis where Sheba set off
for Jerusalem on an island
sand and haze,
in a maze so deep
the shallow water through coral reefs.

The muddy currents part the soil
revealing an ancient post
trading and mating,
where merchants bartered
for olives, dates, and oil.

In the Ethopian Book of Kings
Solomon's baby in her belly
slaves and masters,
named the tribe of Judah
she ruled her own kingdom.

Then stolen by British and Italian
along with the Book of Kings
London and Rome
took Addis Ababba
and the desert sun set on her empire.