They were con men
who, stumbling into a city
were able to convince one and all
that they were emissaries
        appointed by Gilgamesh
    the great King of Uruk
        who slew monsters
        parlayed with gods
        and wrested
                the fruit of everlasting life.

The three of them were treated
    as if they were
        emissaries of a great king.
They were bathed and shaved
   and clothed in finery.
They were given
   night upon night
        the love of women.
They feasted and danced and drank
   in the hall of the king.

At the week's end,
they thanked the city
and they thanked the king,
and the king gave them gifts
        to give to Gilgamesh — 
   gold, frankincense, myrrh — 
  not knowning,
        that Gilgamesh had been dead
        at least three centuries hence.

The con men left the city
        and vanished
only to bear
   those sacred gifts,
                given in good faith,
to a babe born in a manger — 
         gold, frankincense, myrrh.

The gifts meant for Uruk, Sumer,
   Assyria, and Babylon
were given
        to a new King.