On distant sands in times of old,
where ever drifting sands,
would shine like goldust;
under the mighty disc of Ra,
stood in silence frozen,
Jackal headed Wepwawet,
at the entrance to the underworld,
in Abydos forgotten.
For it is his task given,
to open the winding paths,
which take our released souls,
from this world into the next;
across the swirling universe,
through that which is seen and unseen,
bringing your heart to Duat,
where the measure of a man is weighed.
But is this the only path he opens
and the only one he treads?
I can still hear your voice,
as a whisper in a dream,
a guidance and a forewarning,
of where to place my feet;
to avoid the dangers of the future,
and acknowledge the journeys,
of a well traveled past,
to give better balance to this soul.
The perfect scout in hostile fields,
filled with hidden enemies;
where dreaded pitfalls lurk,
to entrap and ensnare,
the feet of the unguarded and unwary;
a light in oppressive darkness,
or shouted warning in a sea of sound,
to keep my paths ever clear.
Author notes
This piece is concerning Wepwawet.
Wepwawet was a jackal-headed god, he was seen as a funerary God, who's name means 'Opener of ways (roads)' and was thought of as a God who guided souls on the paths to the underworld, which was a task later absorbed into other Gods.
There is a train of thought that his role of guide along paths didn't necessarily pertain or was not limited to a guide through the paths of the underworld but also a guide to the paths and choices of life. I have touched on this in the piece as it has more resonance to me through one personal experience.
Wepwawet was also originally a War God and was seen as scout, which I have also incorporated into the piece, as I see it as very pertinent to the idea of him guiding you along the paths and choices laid before you in life.
A contest entry
- Deity Contest 1 ~ Egyptian ~ Pick one and write about it by Amunet Wolfbane.
2250 points, ended June 22, 2008, 9 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The EGYPT Contest!!! by NooNiThEWitcH.
463 points, ended August 1, 2008, 20 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Interesting, I loved the ending:
"a light in oppressive darkness,
or shouted warning in a sea of sound,
to keep my paths ever clear."
I only thought that Annubis was the Jackal-headed god, apparently I was wrong.. Though it would be interesting what the name of this god is in Arabic, I bet it is something completely different
Thank you so much for entering and for the author's notes, I needed them
Good luck in my contest and keep on writing,
Nooni
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I really like the opening stanza of this, it pulled me into it very smoothly. It is a nicely done informative piece and much enjoyed
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