Deep in Egypt, Handing up Now
. . .keep drifting to the hundreds of hands
that imprinted stars on the inner walls of a tomb
they had stone-by-stoned (some hopefully stoned
to ease the gouges left by whips by self-hypnosis
or purloined wine). Were they forced to press
their palms and fingers, or were they saying, Hark!
We lived! [??] Felt the sweet breeze on a baking day,
felt the sun warm our foreheads and arms and backs
on a stone cold, dead cold, morning. Felt love warm
our loins and wrap our beaten limbs in silk
on cold, stark, way short nights. Felt
the eyes of our sisters and brothers lave
our wounds and force rods into our spines
and try to sweeten the bitterness out of gruel
writhing with worms and bugs. I want to feel
that every man, woman, and child knew
joy, however fleeting. That the relief
of getting off bleeding, blistered feet
when finally it came was heaven. That the end
of a shift spent hauling, hoisting and being growled
and shouted at, and worse, tasted like wild honey.
That being out in all kinds of weather made a song
out of a cloudless blue sky. That a bird on the wing
or peacefully nesting gave more pleasure
than jealousy. That the gleam of a ruby
or smooth richness of turquoise or seduction of
onyx or green jade rippled the senses without throwing
a caul over heart and mind. That the glide of soft cotton,
if ever it came, brought a delicious shiver, and a sip
from a shared cup. That having a child soothed
more than forebode separation by maiming, death or sale.
Being human, I like to feel they milked happiness
out of moments so brief and infrequent that the fortunate
would have failed to count. Their hands
were beautifully made, it is clear. Shaped
for a purpose such as telling us they. . .
that we must. . . l i v e.
(C) Phyllis Jean Green, January, 2007
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(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Fee
Carole
Carmen
Carmen
Aberjhani
Powerful closing statement!!
Congratulations on your achieved.
Love And Peace t You Always...Morning Star
Congratz on your achievements
Love Tinka
A poetic banquet on the table of history. "Deep in Egypt, Handing up Now" is art and knowledge meeting to deliver a masterpiece.
I salute You, Poet.
Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU
Take care,
Sherry