Syria

Euphrates' cities and
Palmyra's streets and you
Forests of columns in the level desert
What are you now?

Your crowns, because
You crossed the boundary
Of breath,
Were taken off
In Heaven's smoke and flame;

But I sit under clouds (each one
Of which has peace) among
The ordered oaks, upon
The deer's heath, and strange
And dead the ghosts of the blessed ones
Appear to me.

(poem "ages of life" by Friedrich Hölderlin )