Another new year,
Gonna give it another try
To get in gear
And simplify
My ways
And days
To live the good life
With little strife.
Examples of good life: 
poem
Mourning After
Days passed
Since that one night past;
Morning after was hard to bear
Until nothing was left to bare;
Your voice I can still hear,
Though you are far from here;
But I continue to wait,
As I carry the weight,
Knowing you said bye
That I can’t buy.
“I am always by your side,”
I heard you sighed.
Mourning Dew
Image: Pixabay
Sliding down my cheek,
Fresh tears fall,
First thing in the morning,
My own mourning dew,
As I think of you.
Mourning Glory
Image: Pixabay
Start of a new day,
Feeling like a stray,
Still mourning after,
No sense of next chapter,
My tomorrow
Scheduled for more sorrow,
Tremendous, glorious,
Hideously piteous
Pain sustained,
Until I’m drained
Of life itself,
Only then will be true farewell.
Wildfire
Surreal acceptance,
Time no longer the essence,
Only your presence.
As the fire burns,
Cures have diminished returns;
Reserve your concerns,
There’s no stopping me
From claiming eternity
Once my soul is free.
Devil May Care
The clock struck midnight;
You waited too long to leave,
and overstayed your welcome.
You’re now in my yard,
To greet the trick or treaters,
Oh, my little pumpkin.
Rules were laid out,
To go before 12 o’clock,
Or you become my jack-o’-lantern.
Yet you laughed,
Told me to chill,
Now your turn to be still.
Exploring Egypt: More of Luxor
7th and last of the series on my 7-day stay in Egypt
More sights in Luxor,
Lunch with local family,
And back to Cairo.
As always, the day began early to see more wonders of Luxor, which used to be the ancient city of Thebes. First stop is the Colossi of Memnon, two 56-feet tall statues on Luxor’s west bank. They represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
Next stop is the royal burial site, Valley of the Kings, where over 60 lavishly decorated tombs of pharaohs are located, dating from 16th to 11th century B.C. We went inside three of the four tombs that were opened to the public that day. To help preserve the artwork, the tombs are rotated every year for visitation and renovation. So, in any given year, usually only four tombs are open for exploring inside.
Another noteworthy royal site we visited was Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple, which was built for the longest reigning female pharaoh in Egypt, Hatshepsut. She ruled for 20 years in the 15th century B.C. and was considered one of Egypt’s most successful pharaohs.
After our historical excursions underground, we went to a local family’s home for lunch, which reminded me of why I love Middle Eastern food.
Our hearty lunch was then followed by some free time, which was spent learning more about Egypt’s rich history in the Luxor Museum and walking around the city.
After sunset, we all went to the train station for our return trip north to Cairo. That overnight ride on the sleeper train took approximately 10 hours. (Once we reached Cairo by early morning, we flew to JORDAN – the next travel series.)
To see the beginning:
1st day: Old Cairo
2nd day: Giza/Cairo
3rd day: Aswan
4th day: Abu Simbel
5th day: Nile River
6th day: Luxor
