A tomb of flowers

                                              King David put up

                                              For his son

                                              Abu Salam

                                   And a heavy scent

                                             of fading roses

                                                    filled the air

                                                       with the sweetness

                                                        of death

                                                                               Like a 

                                                                               Carpet

                                                              Black orchids

                                                               In velvety bloom

                                                    Enclosed

                                       His body's dust

                    Like blood the poppy fields' purple

             Radiated red in the noon

     And filled the air with

               The mellow aroma of transience

(1994)