The Great Pyramid
"I
Khufu
Almighty
with Immutef
architect supreme
did erect in My Name
this enduring monument
to stand for all eternity
as witness to Me the Living God
Ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt.
"I
a l s o
had fashioned
for my three wives
As
lasting
tribute to
my great favour
towards my consorts
A
smaller
one for each
before my own"
.
Hugh Wyles, November 1st.2006.
Author notes
Khufu (also known [Greek] as Cheops), son of Snofru and Hetepheres I, was the second Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty.
He established his right to the throne by marriage to his full-sister, Merytyetes, who was 'the vehicle of the royal blood' and therefore carried the succession. He also married his half-sister, Henutsen, and an unknown 'common' wife.
He built the largest of the pyramids at Giza, 20 miles north of Memphis.
Khufu's grandson, Khafre, built the second largest Giza pyramid and also had the Sphinx fashioned from a solid limestone outcrop.
Is there a name for this poetry form, other than "Pyramid"?
Written November 1st, 2006
In a list
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Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Very creative
As Khufu did decree his monument,
He with delight did grant upon his name,
And Immutef his wits and parliament,
Were put into the famous halls of fame.
I am honored to have you on my favourites sir,
And as an egyptian,
I find this piece as intriguing as well-structured in both form, and flow..
Shape poetry is still a mystery that I am not yet willing to explore..
but other forms as sonnets, nonnets, and ballads as well as metre intrigue and inspire me better.
Nevertheless, you have an unspoken beauty of words in here mister Hugh,
and again I am honoured to have such talent on my favourites list..
I'll be back viewing some of your poetry soon,
hope you grant me the grace of viewing mine as well.
Raven Dark.
N.B:
I am in the winkling Sonneteers sir, glad to join a group you are in.
-
Dear Laba,
Maybe they ran out of building blocks?
BTW did your uncle Albert have a pyramid?
Thanks for reading, comment and applaud.
Love and hugs, XXX Hugh R. -
Dear Yem,
I think he only built those small pyramids because there were a few bricks left over from his big one. It was hard to get good quantity surveyors in those days!
You're not the first to suggest destroying the Pyramids. Turks and others blew holes in it trying to get inside and tourists are continually breaking bits off the stones, so if you wait long enough, there'll be nothing left!
BTW. Some call it "concrete poetry" which, I suppose in this case, might not be entirely inappropriate.
Thanks for reading and applause.
Regards, Hugh. -
It's called shape poetry isn't it? Not that I know a whit about poetry. He was rather egotistical wasn't he. Not only for the self promotion and whole perpetuity thing but also for making the pyramids for his wives smaller. Am I like the evilest person ever for suggesting that we should destroy the pyramids so his egotism could no longer be rewarded?
Very creative, I don't have the patience to even think of trying that.
-
Dear Susan (Molly),
Thanks for stopping by to read this which, for me, was a 'bit of fun' after years of writing verse in rhymed metric feet.
As you know, Egyptology has been a lifelong interest of mine so, apart from checking the spelling of wifely names, not a lot of new research was involved. I am glad you enjoyed it and hope you are feeling better these days.
Edna and I are comparatively well, thank you.
Your comment and applaud is much appreciated.
Love and hugs as ever, XXX Hugh (Da.)
Edited on Nov 01, 11:02 p.m. because ''. -
Dear Hatstand,
While you are correct in there being no universal cultural standards, there are certain universal human instincts which tend to govern the behaviour of most peoples and those which adopt 'unnatural' practices tend to be exceptions.
Incest does not seem to have been a popular Egyptian custom, except within the Royal Families, just as the practice of putting servants to death so that they could 'accompany' a deceased Pharaoh into the afterlife was (fortunately) not a privilege shared by the common people.
Thankyou for your comment and your enjoyment of my piece of fun-writing.
Regards, Hugh. -
Dear Bea and Jen,
Having written more than 125 sonnets, i feel the urge to try something different. Hence my earlier Tetractys and now this Pyramid. I may try a few other form poems. After working in rhymed, metric feet, it quite a change to express one thoughts in syllabic, unrhymed verse. Much easier!!
Love and hugs, XXX Hugh. -
excellent~
Very impressive indeed da...
I also love how you shaped it in a pyramid form...
I am so used to your sonnets but this was just fantastic...
Also thanks for the research you did in this as well
Hope things are well with you and Edna
All my best...
Hugs
Susan~~~
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Dear Hugh, geeze mate, these are fantastico. It's beaut how you made them come out so perfect and you've added history to them as well. Makes me want to branch out and try different styles.......One day. Well done Oh great King of Huguelot Castle.
Love Jen
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Dear Hugh,
These are magnificent pyramids that you've created, it's a shame that they inbred so much, I think that's why there are so many genetic diseases showing up now, as the practice continued between our own ancestors.
I love the way they erected the great pyramids, they've always fascinated me and I would've loved to have seen them.
Very beutifully formed pyramids my friend.
You certainly are branching out into new forms.
Love Bea
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Yes! This is what concrete poetry should be like - not only have you got the shape spot on, but the rising metre (mostly iambic, but with some nice variations) makes it feel like the reader is actually climbing up a slope of the pyramid. I cannot begin to say how impressed I am at anyone who manages to achieve solid shape in poetry, much more so when as a reader I can almost feel the sandy desert wind in my hair!
I ordinarily try to avoid leaving links on other peoples' work, but this is to another wonderful concrete poem (not one of my own, although I wish it was) - I think you'll appreciate it:
www.poemranker.com/poem-details.jsp?id=9102
It's interesting that you mention interbreeding, actually - at the start of the week I was discussing this in a seminar, about how there are no cultural universals across the human race. It had been suggested that an aversion to incest is fairly universal - but I wonder how much the history here contradicts that.
Thank you for a poem which, not only is it well-written and constructed, but also involves such research and thoughtfulness as to actually teach the reader something new. I just wish more people on here had your ability (I certainly wish I did!) -
Dear Julie,
Most of the Pharaohs married their sisters to establish their succession and preserve the bloodline. Several married their daughters (but I am not aware that any married their mothers!)
Cleopatra, the last of Egypt's Pharaonic succession, married her own brother (before she had him assassinated by her Roman lover.)
The interbreeding resulted in the perpetuation of congenital defects such as hydrocephalus which, particularly in Royal Mummies from the New Kingdom 18th Dynasty (c.1570-1304 BC.) is evident in elongated skulls and other bodily deformities.
I hope this information doesn't aggravate your nausea!
Thanks for your much appreciated interest and applause.
Love and hugs, XXX Hugh.
Edited on Nov 01, 4:04 p.m. because ''. -
Oh, Hugh, I love this! The first stanza or pyramid is like a reversed nonet I think, but other than that I don't know a name for what you've done. Interesting facts in your author's notes too, although the thought of Khufu marrying his sisters makes me the slightest bit ill to think about. I wonder if they had much say in the matter?
This is quite different from what I'm used to seeing from you but you've done a beautiful job.
Much love,
~J.
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