LAND OF THE LIVING

The soft winds of October arrive,

and the withered leaves follow.

As they caress the palm trees,

brushing their dried eyes below.

The trees now awake from summer sleep,

welcome the winds with open arms.

Uncoiling their roots from the desert sand,

they fall in line and begin to march!

Their long roots sweeping behind,

like a wedding gown of a bride.

They raise their arms, singing in praise,

for today is the telling of a story,

the story of Gilgamesh! 

Around five thousand years ago,

when civilizations were but brewing seeds,

there lived an ancient Sumerian King,

between the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates.

Gilgamesh a hero and supreme ruler,

two thirds God, one third man,

tamer of beasts, breaker of mountains,

shifter of seas and leveller of lands!

Superiority and pride fluttered in his mind,

an unfettered power, unchallenged in hand.

His greed ran free and devoured everything,

that roamed on the bosom of his kingdom's sands.

The Gods that heard the people's lament,

Couldn't bear the agonizing cries,

of Gilgamesh's exploitation of the men,

and theft of the young virgin brides.

So they created for him an equal being,

uncivilized and covered in hair,

Our King's path with the creature intertwined,

impressed by his strength he grew care.

Fondness made him a companion and friend,

he sought to civilize and tame him,

though in the process and the adventures,

he was filled with disgust to the brim.

He realized his unworthy way of life,

feeling regret and deep sorrow of his crimes.

He found great affection and meaning,

to redeem with his friend all the lost time.

But the thread of every man's life expires,

and death arrived one begotten day,

playing tender tunes on her melancholic flute,

and took his sleeping friend away.

The dawning truth of his mortality,

trembled our King to find an escape.

He thought of himself to live forever,

enjoying the world's spaces and shapes.

It was the King's time too,

death stalked him where darkness lay,

But our King sailed away from Uruk,

to find a place, where death had no say.

"Such a place exists!" cried the oracles of our King!

"Somewhere to the south of Babylonia lies an island,

the land of the living, where the sun rises.

A garden of everlasting life for heroes and kings,

where there is no lamentation, suffering or vices.

There is a plant that grows in the waters of Dilmun,

it has a prickle like a thorn.

Succeed in taking it, and your hands will hold that which,

restores youth to the old."

Gilgamesh sailed to the unique seas,

that of sweetness and salt.

But death was keen to follow him,

and take that which belongs to her.

The tunes of her flute faded,

the closer he approached Dilmun's shores,

The thick layer of darkness cast by her,

began to separate even more.

It was the break of day,

and Gilgamesh searched the land to find,

the plant of immortality in his grasp,

but he realized the vanity of his design.

"The gods give man all pleasures of life,

but also give him his demise,

they hold life, but not human life,

for death is what makes us alive.

Who pants for glory finds but short repose,

A breath revives him, and a breath overthrows"

At this fruition of truth he decided,

to bury underneath the earth, this deadly knife,

And thousands of years later,

a tree grew in its place, alone in the desert,

called the 'Tree of Life'

WRITER'S NOTE: From time immemorial, Bahrain has attracted travellers to its shores. Some like Gilgamesh (whose legend was captured in stone), were kings in pursuit of the island's fabled secret of eternal life. It holds the world's largest known prehistoric cemetery with more than one hundred thousand burial mounds covering areas of Bahrain. Pearls have been found alongside other jewels, clay pots and artefacts in excavated grave mounds, indicating a belief that the island possessed the secret of immortality. A land without death and sickness, with an abundance of sweet waters believed to grant eternal life. The Tree of Life is believed by local inhabitants to be the actual location of the garden of Eden, how this tree has survived over the centuries in the middle of a desert is a mystery. And thousands of years after the pursuit of Gilgamesh, Bahrain still boasts to be a melting-pot of nationalities from around the world, renowned for its friendly people and relaxed lifestyle, tax free environment and large investment potential. There is a culture of openness and tolerance to all sects, ethnicities and religions. A mosque, a church and a temple will be found standing near each other. Expatriates enjoy the blessing of celebrating life in a peaceful, secure and quiet Island. It is truly a sanctuary for those who want to live a life of Immortality!