A Love Poem From Ancient Kemet I
My beloved's love is over there,
on the other side,
the river surrounds my body
the flood waters are powerful in this season,
and a crocodile waits on the sandbank.
yet I went down to the water
to wade through the flood,
my heart brave in the channel.
I found the crocodile to be like a mouse,
and the surface of the water like dry land to my feet.
It is her love that makes me strong.
She casts a water spell for me!
I see my heart's beloved standing right before me!
my beloved has come,
my heart rejoices,
my arms are open to embrace her.
my heart is as happy in its place
as a fish in its pond.
O night, you are mine forever,
since my lady came to me!
Seven whole days,
I have not seen my beloved.
Illness has invaded me,
my limbs have grown heavy,
and I barely sense my own body.
Should the master physicians come to me,
their medicines could not ease my heart.
the lector priests have no good treatment,
because my illness cannot be diagnosed.
but if someone tells me,
'here she is! '—that will revive me.
her name, just her name
that is what will get me up.
The coming and going of her
|