Ramses my King, you are my crimson wine
In the most precious goblet of pure gold..
The edge of intoxication is a fine line
But on the throne, I try keep my love unfold..
You are my sweet honey in the Nile's water!
You are my enriched starry nightsky, my Nuit!
Your heaven makes your unique love sparkle!
My Pharaoh, do you remember..how we held each other's hands?
I remember how you and I, together, ruled the two lands!
Son of the Sun, remember..how you stroke my long ebony hair?
Unfair for your fierce heart to be so lost in me:
For every time you had to fight against Kemet's biggest enemy.
Never did you think of asking me how unfair it was for me:
To be in the palace without you - so tormented by worry!
Hidden passion controlled my young heart as you gave me
That insane look into my eyes, how strongly your arms grabbed me!
How desperately you kissed me after, how you sighed and caressed me!
How you held me like I was only yours, I belonged to you night and day!
Even as dead I recall the taste of your elixir, your love!
Even as dead I wander in a wonderful paradise remembering it.
Even as dead.. as I watch the river's graceful flow..
Forever you will remain my sweet honey!
On the water of the Nile I saw a reflection
Of you in our royal marriage bed, crying of deception..
I saw you thinking of those late evenings
When we used to meet in the palace's hall, near the curtains..
The days you told me about your feelings for me in rage
And left like you had been called back to your royal cage..
My love for you is as divine as you are in your solemn light!
My Pharaoh, my Brother beloved.
So many fortunate victories.. so much uncontrolled pride..
My ever-lasting soulmate, my ever-lasting lover -
Your heavy heart makes your strong love a high tide
My man of duties and responsibilities!
Never did I wish for you to go to Syria with an army of
Soldiers and horses; To Kush, with spears and swords!
Or to far-away Nubia for another year of trading or warfare..
Without you.. I often roamed in the golden palace.
Like a dead lotus picked up from a bloody Nile:
Envious maidens of youth, seduction and malice
Watched me walk, watched me wander while
I thought of you as I wondrously eyed the stars in the sky.
Bitterly, although not allowed, I asked the immortal Gods: "Why?!"
You had to go again with your army and leave me behind.
Did you ever think you might have not found...
After your return..
Me still alive?
Ramses, do not lose hope: you are still my crimson wine!
In the most precious goblet of purest gold!
After my young, unpredictable death..
A love story of us will always be told!
Ramses..
It's me, your Nefertari speaking: can you hear me now?
It's me, your Nefertari, the one for whom the Sun shone!
I can hear you crying - do not! Do not!
Do not cry beloved, soon I shall come home again!
Anubis will lead you to the realm I dwell in.
I can hear your whispers of declaring your love for me
Once more; Whispering: "Forgive me.. eternal Sister!"
Confessing near my young corpse at Abu Simbel:
"The Gods said I'd be the greatest of all Pharaohs of Kemet
But I am a nobody without my beautiful companion!"
'Tis my soul can never forget.. This my soul
Shall always remember!
Author notes
Ramses II & Nefertari are my favourite Ancient Egyptian royal couple. They were known to be very much in love. I love their love story.
(If you wonder why I wrote brother & sister then it's because a male lover was called a "brother" & vice versa).
Nefertari means "Beautiful Companion". She is one of the best known Egyptian queens (& my favourite), next to Cleopatra, Nefertiti and Hatshepsut (another fav. of mine besides Ankhesenamon).
Ramses was one of the greatest pharaohs of Egypt & apparently one of the proudest as well. But Nefertari was enough for him to forget about his ego for once - he built temples for her, gave her sweet titles (like Lady of the Two Lands which was VERY rare to give for a woman, The One for Whom the Sun Shone etc) & even made her statue as big as his next to his statue. Who wouldn't die for that kind of a man?!
For those of you who don't know:
Presumably, Nefertari died when she was still quite young because her health failed her. So, this poem that I wrote in a free-verse style has a slightly sad underlying tone.
Nefertari’s origins are unknown, but she is thought to have been a member of the nobility. While she was queen, her brother Amenmose held the position of Mayor of Thebes. Nefertari at age thirteen married Ramesses, only fifteen, before he ascended the throne, and remained the most important of his eight wives in Upper Egypt for at least the next twenty years. By the 1240s BC her prominence appears to wane, and her images by the Pharaoh's side become scarce.
Nefertari had at least four sons and two daughters, although none of these children succeeded the throne.
Poetry written by Ramesses about his dead wife is featured on some of the walls of her burial chamber. ("My love is unique—no one can rival her, for she is the most beautiful woman alive. Just by passing, she has stolen away my heart.")
Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefertari
------------------------------------------------------
6) Romeo & Juliet style
a) one dies
A contest entry
- Have you ever been in Love by Endeavor.
900 points, ended February 10, 2008, 29 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Romancing The Muse by 2lullabyhaven.
520 points, ended May 10, 2008, 37 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The EGYPT Contest!!! by NooNiThEWitcH.
463 points, ended August 1, 2008, 20 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Options! Options! and more Options!! PW by Patience15.
780 points, ended January 6, 36 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
-
Intriguing... so intriguing. The love Nefetari had for Ramses was just so clear and i know that anyone who reads this can feel the pain and "Desperation" she felt at not being by his side. Truly amazing and sad. I loved reading it and thank you for clearing up some things in the author's note.
Excellent work. Well done. -
WOW!
Truly Spectacular!
This is the best love poem I have read since I joined AllPoetry! Truly Magnificent!
It is amazing, how this is inspired by mere mythology - unless you were imagining the person you love as Ramses and you, his Nefertari - but WOW!
Though this goes beyond my line limit, I'm sure, I was not bored reading it and surprising my patience did not fail me!
Keep on writing and thank you so much for entering this in my contest. Also, congrats on the previous HM and Silver!
Nooni
-
A lot of romancing going on in here...thanks for your entry and good luck
lol
-
Excellent
Do not cry beloved, soon I shall come home again!
Anubis will lead you to the realm I dwell in.
I can hear your whispers of declaring your love for me
Once more; Whispering: "Forgive me.. eternal Sister!"
Love how you told this story
Your Author`s Notes were excellent
This verse is actuall better than an HM
I just ran out of trophies
Very well done
Rick
-
I have read your verse
Thank you so much for submitting your words to my contest
I will comment in detail on my final selections
I wish you well in the contest
Thank you
Rick
-
I am a great fan of old writes like this, So i have to say Bravo!
Greatly penned with a wonderful story behide it.
Lovely
Goodluck
~Lisa~
-
This was fantastic... I thought I recognized the name Nefertari in the title. I remember The Mummy Returns. That was Evy's name in the past when she was a princess. I wasn't sure if that was a true person or not... but this was great... you did a fabulous job bringing this to life. I am very interested in these sorts of stories and such. So thank you so much for entering and good luck.
-
I really liked this poem. It fits nicely into this contest. I'm pleased that you've done your research since I too am interested in Egyptian history. Lots of passion and emotion in this piece and you learn something in the process. Nicely done. Thank you for entering this contest and good luck
-
What a beautiful poetic monologue! I love the word choice and the passion that was portrayed in these words. I agree, it is much like my Egyptain piece in the style and emotion; we do have a lot in common! Anyway, wonderfully done, losing no impact in its length. Brava!
-
I really like the meaning behind this poem. It has very real truth underlining your words and that truth of love is what i hope will carry on into this day and age although you scarcly see it. I hope it does exist, that someone would give up so much for love. Hopefully no one has to live through the agony that we know Ramses did after his love died. But enouph of getting carried away. I loved your poem even with the lenght i was captured and thats the kind of writing that realy means something. Great Job!
-
OH! What a truely sad poem that you've got here. It almost makes me want to cry. I think that nothing is more beautiful than a man that is completely filled up with love. He does all kinds of things to show his love and doesn't care if the whole world knows. It's enough to make any woman sigh and feel a little envious. I think it was a beautiful love story to write about.
-
-
Yay! Thank you! I'm so glad someone commented on this.
This is one of my own fav poems and is very special, it holds a unique place in my heart. So thank you once again!
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 12 of 12
