On the banks of the
river they call Indus today
we observe a kind of
bean
much like the Egyptian bean
also
crocodiles are reported
upstream & hillsides grown over
with myrrh & ivy
He believes
we have located the headwaters
of the River Nile
we offer
sacrifice
hold games
for the occassion
There is much rejoicing &
the men think
we shall turn back
These elephants their
emissaries offer
are giant
terrifying beasts yet
with a grin he yesterday
ran up a ladder onto
the very top of one
beast
The men
cheered him & he
waved & they cheered him
again
He pointed across the river
& the men grew silent
The builders
busy themselves with great rafts
at the water’s edge
on the morrow
we again set our faces
to the East
Tonight
wind birds
fill the air
the clacking of their bills
like iron on iron
The wind
is steady is fragrant
with jasmine
trail of the country behind us
The wind moves
through the camp
stirs the tents of
the Hetaeri
touches each
of the sleeping soldiers
Euoi! Euoi!
men cry out
in their sleep & the horses
prick their ears & stand
shivering
In a few hours
they all shall wake
with the sun
shall follow the wind
even further
-Raymond Carver, Fires