Amun's Blessing

Amun got him.

My boy.

Wound him in cloths
of fever and pus.

And choked him dead.

Mother, I listened to you.

Send Smenkhkare, you said.
The priests don't hate him.

Do they hate me, Mother?

Have I ever given them
cause?

Did I shit in their temple?
Did I piss in their Lake?

I let Karnak stand.

Sometimes
I dreamt it
black and brittle

a carcass
under the rays of Aten

but no
I am not a vulture

I don't tear at
stenching old gods

I let Karnak stand, Mother

and listened to you.

Amun has sent the plague
you said
the city is heaving
and wailing
everyone blames you
do something
send Smenkhkare
to make peace with Amun.

I did.
I let my boy go.

Amun took him
into his pestilent sanctuary
and blessed him.

Now, Mother,
it's your turn
to listen.

Tell your friends
at Karnak
they'll have to move
fast
to hide their filthy god
from my blessing!