Buried Fruit
Egyptian desert places are the most
Productive in our search for classic fruit.
The ruins near the Memphis desert coast
Were planted with a sowing absolute.
There near the Serapeum was a pot
Of books, their texts the earliest so far
To come to us in Greek. The sand was hot
And dry enough to save this treasure jar
Including in the riches there a scroll
Containing part of Homer’s Iliad.
From Fayyum and from Oxyrhynchus roll
Out other treasures in a chiliad
Or more of riches. Thank the gods for sands
And for the care in ancient scribal hands.