OPENING OF THE MOUTH CEREMONY

Snoozing behind smart glass in

the museum’s Egyptology department,

a slim calcite tablet – milky white,

silky-smooth – seems not altogether

cold to the touch.  Made of ancient

soft-boned sediments it looks of

pleasing size and weight to cradle

idly in the palm of a hand.

It has seven small indents for

the dab and dip of digits

the length of its long-edge side,

and there runs vertically down

from each a ladder of etched glyphs –

what to speak, correct address,

text of right thing to say.

Drop sacred oil into each small bowl,

anoint a tip then run that finger down

the figured squares and apply as required

to desired statue’s lips.

Age-old i-phone does its bit:

you’re waiting now for stone to talk,

respond to your invocation,

to cough and say hello.