Some fantastic apocalyptica I encountered reading about Rome’s Egyptian frontier: writing about the Kharga…

Some fantastic apocalyptica I encountered reading about Rome’s Egyptian frontier: writing about the Kharga depression (where hot days are known as the Father of Axes to locals), Wilfred Blunt:

How the earth burns! Each pebble underfoot

Is a living thing with power to wound.

The white sand quivers, and the mute footfall

Of the slow camels strikes, but gives no sound,

As though they walked on flame, not solid ground.

Tis noon, and the beasts’ shadows even have fled

Back to their feet, and there is fire around

And fire beneath, and overhead the sun.

Pitiful Heaven!