~ Poems of Love ~

The following poems have been written by me, for my husband Hamada, who suffered from Multiple Myeloma [IgG Kappa] a cancer of the plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow. After many months of chemotherapy, contracting pneumonia twice, once given only twelve hours to live and having three bad fractures to his spine and also showing in his Pelvis, he made it to four years seven months. The Multiple Myeloma attacked his Kidneys first showing at diagnosis in May 2006 leaving Hamada only a small percentage of kidney function. He never complained, using his most amazing smile even when I knew he had severe pain. Hamada underwent a Stem Cell Transplant using his own 'harvested stem cells' . During October 2007 he spent seventeen days in the "Centre For Clinical Haematology" at Nottingham City Hospital UK. where he achieved this transplant. We had a scare at six months after transplant, when told 'the beast was back' but subsequent tests showed a partial remission. Again in early 2009 it was confirmed that Hamada was out of remission He fought again during 2010 with newer chemo type drugs. First with Velcade and then with Revlimid but to no avail. His Kidneys were failing further and Hamada chose not to have dialysis. This blog contains poems and updates, written for Hamada, telling of our life together.
Now a beautiful book has been published, see http://www.susiehemingway.com/books/
showing Hamada's personal fight against Multiple Myeloma in the first fifty 'poems of love' written by me his wife. I hope you like these poems of love and also 'our story' dedicated to Hamada, who passed away peacefully at home on 23 November 2010 after a most courageous fight against Multiple Myeloma.

23 June, 2007

Oasis Town - Al Ain - U.A.E.


It's splendid vista way up high
the Jebel Hafeet* in clear blue sky,
my lover took me to this place
where snaking roads make hearts race,
this flower bordered oasis town
set as the Rub Al Khali *surrounds.

A magic beauty there for me
the middle of the sands you see,
grand marbled palaces you'll find
with fountains and Bedouins inside.
Mercedes and the finest things,
streets of gold and diamond rings.

Down town we found a natural spring
and handsome swarthy Arab friends,
in long white robes with beads to hand,
such beauty, of their falcon's wings
this desert world it's secrets bring.

Always we dined on tasty things
lamb in soft white bread you see,
lovely glasses of sweet mint tea ,
they welcomed us on desert sands
in tents, to take us back in time.

My lover with the charming smile
said we should linger for awhile,
to sit and sample 'sweet delights'
we did, long in the twinkling night,
and the warm 'Kamseen' did blow for us.

The silver platters of fruity dates
were passed with hands of love not hate,
the dark fringed lashes on dark brown eyes
could melt a heart in candlelight,
the over-whelming scent of musk
made 'giddy feelings' turn to lust.

This magic sensual desert town
with gentle friends that we had found.
The merging of the old and new,
this quiet love I found in you,
our little child with soft brown face
his sturdy body in a race, to grow
and blossom in the sun.

This much loved little Arab boy
who came to us with so much joy,
he played amid the palm tree glades,
looking for a little shade.
We wondered in 'Burami Town'
as riverlets sparkled through the ground.

The smell of oranges hanging there
the heady scents of different air.
In bustling market souks we stayed,
yes, how I loved those desert days
with our dear friends their gentle ways.

This green and floral oasis town
where we found love, the sands surround....
* Jebel Hafeet Mountain range.
* Rub El Khali Arabian Desert
.
@ Copyright 2006
Camel Photo - Courtesy - Matt Rutherford.


10 comments:

Susie Hemingway said...

Rub Al Khali - The Empty Quarter
Kamseen - A Desert Wind
Jebel - Mountain

Anonymous said...

Dear Sis,
Thank you for the pleasure of reading the second batch of proofs. I loved them all, but again I choose the Egyption theme.
I Chose "Oasis Town" as I remember your excitement and joy as you described to me your desert camp.
The tents with the Persian rugs, the strange shaped chairs, fancy brass lanterns and the smell of food cooking in the open air.

Janey

Susie Hemingway said...

Thank you Janey, I am so glad you like this one in particular, and that you enjoy them all - I do hope it conjures up a little of those wonderful days with our good desert friends. Many thanks also for your 'proof -reading'xx Love Susie

Anonymous said...

Such a poem, I am there completly, such words and love. Diane

Anonymous said...

Beautiful poems, Your poem is beautiful and brings back many happy memories of life in Al Ain.
This poem tells of days gone by,
yet they are close enough to remember with love, the nights under the balmy skys of Al Ain. Lots of laughter that made us giggle like school girls, lots of laughter that made us cry from happiness. Hamada with the twinkling eyes,flashing smile and shaking head, you make us happy with your jest, you always do your best to brighten up a cold cold day with your pearly whites and repartee lots of love Marion and David.

Susie Hemingway said...

Thank you to diane williamson for your kind words

Susie Hemingway said...

Special thanks to our very dear friends Marion and David, we shared such fun times together in this wonderful Oasis Town - wonderful festive times under the stars together, and remember those great feasts at the Inter-continental at Xmas !

Lora Conrad said...

I've always wanted to go to Egypt and as luck would have it, I just returned from there via "Oasis Town - Al Ain - U.A.E." Thanks to movies I've seen from Hollywood & your ever so beautiful descriptives of life in Egypt, I was able to hear the sounds, smell the scents and visualize life in the wonderful land of Egypt. You never fail to amaze me with your exquisite style of poetry! Warm regards - Lora Conrad

Susie Hemingway said...

Thank you Lora for your very generous comment I really appreciate you taking the time to enter your thoughts here. May I just point out that "Oasis Town" although so like Egypt in many ways, is in fact written about the Oasis town of "Al Ain" which is in the United Arab Emirates, and in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi on the borders with Oman. Many of the customs are very similar to parts of upper Egypt but I felt I should clarify this. If you would like to read about Egypt in particular there is a poem listed called "Cairo" Thank you once again for your continued interest.
My sincere good wishes.

Rosemary Liewald via FB said...

"Susie that poem is wonderful . I do remember the road it scared the living daylights out of me ,but once up at the top it is breathtaking . I also recall it was the first place I had ever seen an Egyptian vulture and that was a real treat . Many thanks for another wonderful memory . x

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