El Gem, Tunisia

O, El Gem

O’er the undulating dunes of the Sahara
We suddenly espy a monumental structure
Rising like a crown jewel from its surroundings
A second-century amphitheater built on Carthage’s
Conquered land, after the total annihilation of
That great empire by the Roman legions, it
Became the bread basket for the Latin world

Great classical homes were built, their glory
Preserved in the unsurpassed mosaics housed
In the museum in Tunis, the Romans also
Erected structures for their entertainment,
El Gem being the second largest coliseum,
Second only to the much more well-known
Edifice in Rome,

We had arrived for a summer night’s musical
Performance within its wall, as the brilliant
Rays of the spectacular sunset set it aglow
In the shifting sands, we watched its
Transformation, oil lamps radiated from each
Of its perfect archways, we had a chance to
View the ancient Roman sculpture on the site

Before we took our seats, the program tonight
Was Baroque, The Death of St. Joseph by
Pergolesi, performed by a group from Milan,
We thought what an odd choice in a pre-
Dominantly Muslim country, we had not
Come tonight because of the selection, this was the
Only night available for us to travel to this region,
We wanted to attend an event here and we weren’t
Disappointed, what a unique experience this was