Dennis Saleh: poem



OBLATION

Osorkon VII, Pharoh, XXIInd Dynasty
To the Lady Bast, cat goddess
Temple of Bast, c. 700 B.C.

I make thee thanks
   I give thee thanks
For the parts of
   thy body be unto holy
Thy muzzle like unto
   the Delta of Egypt
Thy whiskers like unto
   the papyrus tassel
Thy eye like unto
  minishing veils
Thy eye like unto
   phases of the moon
Thy ear like unto
   listening of a sea shell
Thy ear like unto
   hearing of a temple bell
Thy forepaw like unto
   the delicacy of a flower
Thy forepaw like unto
   the delicacy of a virgin
Thy back like unto
   the river's flow
Thy stomack like unto
   the deep well
Thy hindpaw like unto
   the rearing stallion
Thy hindpaw like unto
   the lion's haunch
Thy tail like unto
   the shadow of a date palm
Thy fur like unto
   the gentlest balm
Thy purr like unto
   the contentment of Maat
I make thee thanks
   I give thee thanks
Thou thrilleth night
   when thou goeth into it
Thou maketh alliance
   with the moon
Thou filleth the
   darkness with care

Thou inspireth the
   shadowy place
Thou goeth before
   in the hall alone
Thou goeth against the
   enemies of Pharoh
thou putteth thy fear
   in the granary
Thou maketh the rat
   to be no more
Thou maketh the stores
   to be fortified
Thy claws like unto
   the harvest sickle
Thy bite like unto
   the gate of pain
Thy kicking like
   unto violence
I make thee thanks
   I give thee thanks
Thou seeketh after the
   member of Osiris
Thou giveth Oxyrhynchus fish
   to take care
Thou giveth Mormyrus fish
   to take care
Thou maketh thy home
   in the heart
Thou maketh the
   spirit of Pharoh glad
I make thee thanks
   I give thee thanks
The missing place is thine
   Thy forgotten place
The lost place is thine
   Thy unseen place
The secret place is thine
   Thy hidden place
The unknown place is thine
   Thy holy place


Dennis Saleh's writings have appeared in many publications including, AfterNoon, CrossConnect, Devil Blossoms, Koja, Mind in Motion and Rio: a journal of the arts.