By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
The Ishtar Gate
Sell the car
before it’s repossessed
mortgage the house
before you’re forced into foreclosure
Board the next flight to Berlin
purchase an S-Bahn ticket
back to Babylon’s blue gate
Its oasis of Palms
will make you weep
until the desert sand is washed from your eyes
King Nebuchadnezzar’s aurochs galloping out of glazed brick into flowers
dragons spitting fire
into a procession of lions
times frozen roar
summoning you
out of underworld
burying modern civilization alive
back
back to the collective cradle
of humanity
Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).
Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)
- Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
- Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
- Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018
