On Leaving Egypt - 1938

 

This came at the end of 4 years 192 days chasing all over the deserts of the Middle East at a time when things were very exciting. There are some small alterations in this piece. That is because I have not read them for over 20 years and I thought I knew them all - evidently I was wrong.

A. J. (Jess) Matthews
Royal Tank Regiment 

 

I'm sitting alone in my tent,
Dreaming of days gone by
For I'm sailing for England tomorrow,
And my brains in a bit of a whirl
My thoughts fly back to the days I knew,
The loved ones left behind,
I wonder if they will still be there
So loving and so kind.
For five long years I've lived out east
Among the so-called glamour.
Where men and women live like beasts
Only a little calmer,
They heard together in their huts
No thoughts of sanitation
This state of filth is carried on
In the eyes of civilization.
This land of sin and morals low
Is pleasing to the eye,
Of tourists who can only know
Where certain kings did die.
To see the tombs of Kings and Queens
Is alright in a way
But have they ever walked along a place
Called "Clot" "Bey."
Herex dens of vice on every hand
And lust on every mind,
Here sloe eyed maidens, slightly tanned
Their custom try to find
Sharia Wagh El-Berka, another haunt
Of women who will sell
Body and soul and all it means
Their life it must be hell.
Such is the life that I have known
And yet I've no regrets,
For life out east has plainly shown
What others have not known
But back to England I must go
My story there to tell
And, ere I go I bow full low
And wish you Egypt, farewell. 

 

Perhaps you have an article to add to the site concerning our family's history? Contact me at the email address for consideration. nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.au

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11/04/2007

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