I Have Been Here Before for my father by Don mattera

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When the first sun rose

It found me awake and waiting;

Long before you came to this hill

My footsteps shaped the landscape,

Tamed the buffalo

I rode the wind,

Silenced the hurricane

Look at me

I have been here before…

I washed my wounds in the Nile

Danced in the streets of Egypt

Slept in the wings of the Scarab,

Made love to Nefertitti

Look at me

My eyes were stark, black stars

Raging in the night;

Tempests of rebellion

Ancient as life

Long before the snake

Came to my children,

I looked at God’s face

And saw my image in his eyes…