Borrowed Linens

I had a dream last night
That I do not understand,
For though I know I was asleep,
I was, in the dream, awake...

I found myself in a golden hall
Which I followed, into a room of thrones
And on these thrones were seated gods;
They waited, but not for me.
I heard the sound of chains.
From the shadows where I stood
I saw a jackal-headed god
Bringing prisoner, bound and chained
And the gods did not stir, amazed.

One among them held up his hand
And when there was quiet said, "Anpu,
How is it you bring righteous dead to us
In thrall is such a way?"

And Anpu hung his head and spoke,
"Righteous is this one no more,
For great is all the woe he has wrought
upon the western lands.

Many is the man and maid
Whose life has felt his venomed sting
And thus I mourn, great Wesir:
He is an akh* no more."

Even as I saw the hungry gleam
In eyes of lion-crocodile,
I sensed, even as an intruder
There was more here than it seemed…

For a gathering is gods is unto
A thousand-sided gemstone,
Of which my mortal eyes could bear
The sight of only one.

The Dead God looked upon his charge
Even as Anpu unbound him
And called him by name, though one
I could not understand, and asked,

"Child, why have you done these things?"

The soul's reply was soundless roar
Of madness, hate, and hopelessness,
And images ransacked my mind
Looting for its treasures:

Mummy-unwrapping parties for the rich,
A paper-industry built on stolen linens,
Preserved bodies, torn apart in contempt:

Thousands of souls defiled…

And last insult, as cordwood used,
Desecrated by railway men:

"These peasants don't burn worth a damn!
Someone toss in a king!"

The silence hung like an iron shroud.
First spake the lion-crocodile:

"You know the law… he is mine!"
Her tail lashed as she spoke.

"Peace, Ammit", said great Wesir,
And called out through the call,
"Look well, all assembled here.
Is there one who will speak for him?"

"I will," said a winged maid

With crown beplumed and clothed in light,
"It is not meet to punish one
who hath bourn such pain."

"It is well," said great Wesir,

"To speak thus for your beloved, Ma'at.

Look well, all assembled here.
Is there another who will speak for him?"

"I will," said a warrioress

Whose head was as a lion untamed,
"For when he hath wept vengeance's tears
I have tasted salt."

"It is well," said great Wesir,

"To speak thus for your child, Sekhmet.
Look well, all assembled here.
Is there a third who will speak for him?"

"I will," I heard myself say

and stepped forth from the shadows.

And all assembled in that hall
Looked upon my brazenness.

"What kinship do you claim with him?"
Asked great Wesir from his throne
And at that moment, I wondered if
I, too, might be on trial.

"Many has there been the time,"
I said, striving to speak my heart,
"When pain and wrath and injustice
Led me to cry revenge.

Yet in my rage I could have glutted
On all before me and not been sated,

Yet for someone who spoke for me
And helped me turn aside.

It is not blood nor birth nor even soul
That has me claim this kinship.

It is his sins that make us kin:

This man is my brother."

"It is well," said great Wesir,
"To speak thus for your brother.

Let him therefore be bathed and cleansed
Within the Well of Souls."

And as the soul was led away
Wesir said,

"This is not the first
That we have had to heal this way
Among the righteous dead.

This does not speak well of men
Nor of nations of the earth.

Leave us, for you are living yet
And we have much to consider."

And when I woke, though I could see
That it was on my bed I lay,

And I could see the walls and door
That marked this as my room,

It felt as though I had lain
Upon the stone of temple floor:

Welcome, as any beggar might be,
In sheets of borrowed linen.

*Akh - Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) word for an existing soul (lit. "shining one"),
presumably one who has been "justified" or passed through Judgment.

Hotep Netjer em shabu en emenet her iabyt.
(ho-TEP neh-CHER em shah-BOO en eh-MEH-net hair ee-YAH-beet)

Translation: May God be satisfied with the repast (or offering) to the right and to the left.

may peace be with us All, Amen