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oh beloved Anubis
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After Death leave an offering to Anubis
jackal headed wanderer
singing songs of sleep
accompany the ghosts
in the guise of the Grim Reaper
most thankless job.
fierce and stoic Anubis
black winged angel
accompany us all
across the last river.
guide us to the only home
with your bony reaching hand.
oh feared Anubis
ebony spectre of death
the cemetery fox
eyes painted gold.
near forgotten deity
not all priestesses are lost.
i forgive you all
you have ever stolen from me
in good faith and knowing
that you're not the minister
you're the messenger.
i forgive you all
i'll pray to you and thank you
for your hated task
for your most sacred gift
you could have ever given me
most prized, far beyond ability
of any other god living or dead,
only you, Anubis,
have given this to me
and more than once.
thanks and praise to thee.
my eternal loyalty
for your most timely
fair warning.
Decades ago, I had a fierce
Decades ago, I had a fierce interest in Egyptology and, of course, became aquainted with its pantheon. Yours is the first poem, the first of any writing I have ever read, that softens the fiercome edge; especially the stanza that beings, "I forgive you all."
Starward
Thank you!
If you think of him more like the Angel of Death, I think it helps. I tried to incodporate imagery from multiple cultural expressions of the same archetype.
That's a hated, thankless job, and yet death is such a powerful and important transition, I think we spiritual people sometimes forget, in the anguish of loss, to thank the angel that carries our loves away. If you think about it, would you rather have them walk that lonely road alone?
Of course you are quite
Of course you are quite correct. I am an awkward, clusmy old man, and though I do not fear death, through my faith, I spent some time in being afraid that I would somehow mess up the process (I still have test anxiety from years ago). Then I read that at least two angels accompany the soul to heaven, to help with the transition in a gentle way. Since that time, my fear of my own awkwardness is gone.
Starward
Wow
I never worried about myself screwing up the process!!! I always worry about people I've lost getting lost on their way!! Maybe that's a difference between youth and old age.
It is also the difference
It is also the difference between a very caring person, yourself, and an old only child---whose lack of sibs and playmates made me a more self-centered person than I ought to be.
Starward
LOL!!!
Nah, my own mortality didn't really hit me until my brother died. It's really hard to worry about yourself when someone you love that much is already gone. Everyone's experience of their own mortality is different. We all want to live, it's not any more selfish than wanting to eat when you're hungry.
Would imagine this to make a
Would imagine this to make a fantastic scene in an oil painting – the golden wolf at the heels of Styx where all the rivers converge.
ahh yes
i do have an Anubis themed oil painting in the works, actually. i'm glad you caught the reference to Styx.
"the cemetary fox"
Wandering around in Egyptology, I consider Anubis. A nice stroll. ~allets~