Notes from Egypt

The Pylon Carvings

Cut deep in the temple pylons,
stiff kings and upright gods parade
the temple walls. Around them
royal and divine cartouches
identify the players
Lines of ducks and papyrus plants
clutter the borders.
How wonderful, then, to see
two figures floating free
their spines on the diagonal
as though they dance to songs
the wind plays in the ruins.
The guide says they are gods
and names them. I prefer
to think they're portraits
of astronaut architects
who drew the temple plans
and laid the stones on the stones,
then carved their pictures
to sign their work.

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Updated last on:  2002/02/09