Moving tombs
Cairo’s streets shift into
light-laden pathways for pharaoh
tombs on the move
A slow-paced spectacle of
twenty-two royal mummies
serenaded by symphony & song
paraded along the Nile corniche
to a new resting place
Ramses II & Hatshepsut
arms folded in time
over chests unmoving
under camera’s eyes in
vehicles made to mimic
death boats – surely there
is a stirring…
And the Curse flits
like a lullaby on solemn lips
in stormy shades thrown daggers
on the people – a ship stuck
in a canal a virus toiling in blood
trains colliding on their tracks
These dead do not want to be moved
even under grand pomp
no circumstance is too noble
for pharaoh grave migration
Or maybe… Hatshepsut
her fine ghostly form
sits atop her mimic boat
stroking her fake beard in
contemplation – her legacy
already once nearly erased
Some 3000 years later she flexes
her muscles waves
adoration putting pause
on any of her cursing
Research for this poem:
NPM – Egyptian Poets
To read poetry written by Egyptian poets, CLICK HERE.
“I am the sea in its guts. The pearl is lurking. So did they ask the diver about my shells”
– Hafez Ibraham
Photo: Hatshepsut
SUBMISSION CALL!
The 36th Banister Poetry Contest
Dr. Elspeth Cameron will be this year’s judge for the Niagara Branch of Canadian Authors Association poetry contest, open to residents of Ontario. All poems must be in English and not under consideration elsewhere. Entry fee is $15 for up to three poems and $4 for each additional poem. Number of entries is unlimited. Prizes are: 1st prize: $300; 2nd prize: $200; 3rd prize: $100. Please feel free to share this information with your writing groups and friends. Stay safe. Stay sane.
For details: www.canauthorsniagara.org/poetry-contest/ Deadline is May 31st, 2021
EEP! The countdown continues…
Though I think I posted this one yesterday…! In any case, check out the tour page HERE. The registration link for the Detroit Writing Room event in June is up and running.
Sorry for the delay in the link for the launch. It’s coming!
Thank you to all those who sent best wishes on my Facebook page! OOOO, I feel the love!
(And, I’m sorry for the weird link for the video…it looks embedded when I make the posts…but then in the email, it’s a weird link. I don’t get technology.)
VANESSA SHIELDS, writer 