Author Information
At Pharaoh's Tomb, Circa 1292 BC Or So
Look well and learn from this, Seti, my son:
death waits for no rank. Each and every one---
from Pharaoh to the lowest of his slaves---
will fall. Ornate tombs, or quickly scraped graves,
make little difference to the end of life.
Our Pharaoh, Horemheb, reigned well and long:
he who was born of commoners like we
were---not the smallest drop of royal blood.
His was the burden and the destiny
to bring Egypt from rampant civil strife
that cast her honored name into the mud.
He, who watched her grow weak from heresy's
pernicious drain, labored to make her strong---
after historic fate bestowed the throne
on him. (Fate; not these deities of stone
we worship, that provide a firm illusion
giving traditional stability
a form that any fool or drunk can see:
and this prevents political confusion.)
Beware, Seti, the smooth deceits that lurk
about, to hinder Pharaoh and his work.
We must make ours a mighty dynasty,
established by the greater gods of old
(while we wink at their statues---silent, cold).
About my name change?---yes, I have been told
this shorter version sounds both stern and bold
on pylons and in street talk: Ramases.
Starward
[jlc]
