Afterlife

Afterlife

The world is at my feet, now,
I'm the master of all I see
I am the divine God-King
and the whole world bows to me

But even I have to leave some day
for a world which awaits me next
None have returned to enlighten us
or recorded the details in text

So I prepare as best as I can
with what my limited mind can think
First - to maintain myself in the afterlife
I need to stock up on food and drink

Till the judgment of Osiris * -
to continue my life of ease -
I'll take my treasures and shabtis *
I would certainly require these

I will have myself embalmed
and keep my body preserved
Safe, in a structure massive and strong
with place for all my needs reserved

Until I cross over to join the Gods
I could rest in this temporary camp
Then I would ascend to celestial realms
using the sun's rays as ramp

Still, I dread the afterlife
like a child afraid of the dark
So I labour life-long for the trip
on which I would have to soon embark

After spending my life in preparation
and the Herculean task we did
I finally lie down to rest and wait
In my temporary home - the Pyramid

But reality had more horrors in store
than even my worst nightmare
As to the horrors the future held
we were not even remotely aware

Far from looking up with awe and respect
they loot our sacred graves, instead
Our laboured offerings to the Gods
are plundered from the tombs of our dead

We never imagined grave diggers
with cameras, robots, drills & hoes
would make a mockery of our lives
and open our crypts for TV shows !

And expose our pitiful remains
as entertainment on prime time
Desecrating, for viewer ratings
Violating without caring a dime

Once we were Pharaohs. Kings and Gods.
The sand we walked on was sacred ash.
Reduced to a circus for tourists,
we are now mere bones, on display for cash

~ Shanta ~

* Osiris - Egyptian God of the underworld,
who judges if a person is worthy of eternal life.
* Shabtis functioned as servants for the deceased

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