FLOWERS OF THE NILE

Poems of the Java Goddess for the story Homecoming on the Nile

A bit of history on Epona. Epona is the Celtic goddess of horses. She oversees the harvest, war, horses, bringer of good dreams, the white mare who leads with Rhiannon the souls to the Otherworld. She seemed the perfect goddess for Sohkarra. This poem is dedicated in memory of Lady, a young girl's best friend. Noami this one is for you.

by Elizabeth A. Strong

I hear the call of wild things feeling streached and torn

Why is Life so rough?

When all I crave is to spread my wings

The sky seems so far away to reach

My clay twisted feet on earth

An inner voice calls telling me

Why fly when you can run?

In my dreams: hooves crash, wind rushes

Sleek manes whisper a soft lullabye

Free spirit untouched by human hand

Run wild in galloping equine bands

Vibrates power through my solid feet

Breaks the clay shackles

I long to meet Epona's Thunder

I ask my dreams. Why do horse run this way?

In pure innocense that stays?

I see truth in all devine

My heart beats fierce

My sorrow is lifted, pierced

If only I could run this way!

I awake from the dream.

My father leads me to my sixteenth birthday present

Sweet sighing neigh, charmed Egyptian princess

Equine countinence more noble then any Nile breed

The fire lite by the curve of mane

Arabian beauty unrefrained

Figurehead of battle cry

Her paces I long to try

Primeval element, joyous movement, wild spacious freedom

My flight through the sand is as swift as any cloud soaring hawk

Memories brew in my desert blood of long ago battles

Of heros clashing with ancient ememies

No lesser form could extend my noble name

I am no longer Princess of Msir

Gentle dignity in each high step

Playful as a spindly colt

Galloping paces, flashing gaits in the Ra drenched morning

For no hooves treads more lightly on the silk sands

Flight without wings

I drink the desert's breath

I hear Epona's Thunder

Zepher that blows sand from stormy days

Wind combed mane hurries past dune's crest

Firey gleams like a thundered wave against sun-flamed skies

Pricked ears, tail flowing

Magnificent steed of fire

Wind willed gale carries me fast and far

Coppery neck arched as we roam the glittering dunes

I taste the song of the earth trotting, dancing in the shadows of the desert's eye

Fragrant spray of mist

Raw pinions gloried as water laughes with us dashing on the Nile's edge

Tamerisk blossems filled the breeze

Friendship and beauty housed in graceful laced muscles that no magic can confine

Dream-like, lost in time, joy ignites my soul

Whatever is in front, is now behind us

Hoof beats tread Geb's wake

Molten elegance more glorious then Ra's might is my equine friend

Our gallop is whispered thunder

Neigh's bidding gentles my stormy mind

Virtue bound by nothing save the dulcimer drum hoof beats

This is my ambrosia

My gallent heart knows no defeat

Surging crest as rider and mount are one

Like the stars evermore

A law devined spirit

No treasure of the pharaoh sparkles more brighly then the child's touch of your eyes

Swift of Horus

Plumed papyrus mane

Pharoah's child called my name

Great Ra, who gives me flight

Egypt's glory etched in hot blood

Wind, sand, moon, stars

Rear aloft in midnight sun

Ember fringed in twilight's wonder

I hear the sound of distance hooves

Tangled hair, sun sweet dappled air

I am Epona's Thunder!

Love Lost -- Jakal and Sohkarra -- Jakal when Sohkarra turns her mind from him.

by Elizabeth A. Strong

How can I not speak of love when you are in my presence?

I am alone, without your touch

No water flows in my orchard

I am a bird with a severed wing

A bow string broken

A god that has no worshipers in the halls of a forgotten temples

A dying lotus in a dried pool

I am a blind sculpter who has hands but needs not sight to work

The night is long, dawn rekindled

The throw stick sails from the hunter's hand

The march bird falls in my grip

A fisherman who casts his nets leaping with fish

What can I give you besides earthly gains?

When not even funural wrappings could bestow such magesty?

I am sad

Like a night without stars

I give you my heart upon this long journey

Will you not give me yours?

I await your reply but only the desert wind speaks between us

Anubis Walks With Me -- Nefertina

I have a beloved

Yet I know not how long the path that leads me to his door

I hope that each turn of the path will show his arms in greeting embrace

I see the bright house ahead I hasten my steps

But when he opens his door I shall hear music sweeter than harps or flutes

If I am hungry he will give me fruit

More delectable than figs or pomegranates

And food smoother then honey on the tongue

If I am thirsty, he will give me cool wine

More refreshing than any royal cellar

I am happy for I am with my love.

Do you not know the name of my beloved?

If I am weary, he will annointed me with scented oils

and put sandals finer then Pharoah's upon my feet

If I am sorrowful, he will make my tears by of joy as I hasten towards him

I hope that in each turn of the path will show him waiting for me

His arms outstreached in greeting for I long to dwell in peace in his house

My beloved is very beautiful

His eyes are gentle

His hands that succor me are strong

I have longed for him through my lonely days on Earth

for He has welcomed me home after many journeys

Can you not guess the name of my beloved?

A starving man dreamt of a feast

A blind man dreamt he saw the shining stars

A vanquished man dreamt of victory

When they awoke they found it was true

For in their sleep the three had died

The house of my beloved is happy and warm

There is water and shade from Ra

Do you not know his name?

My beloved's name is Death

Hands -- Sohkarra and Jakal -- this poem was found on the walls of the Princess Soharra's tomb. Along with several royal portraits of an unknown hunter as her side.

Seven days from yesterday I have not seen my beloved

And sickness has crept over me

I have become heavy in my limbs

I am unmindful of my own body

If the master physicians come to me

My heart has no comfort of the remedies

The magicians have no resources in them

My malady is not diagnosed

Better for me is my beloved then any cure

More important is she for me the eintire compendium of medicine

My salutations is when she enters form without

When I see her then I am well

Opens she her eyes, my limbs are young agian

Speaks she and I am strong

And when she embraces me

Even Life stands still

My Love -- Rath and Ashake -- Rath remembers his wife and first love. by Elizabeth A. Strong

O thou holy and eternal savior of my heart

Bestowing a lover's tender affection on this misfortunate man

You dispell the storms of life

and fill my house with laughter

You streach forth your oiled limbs, cool my brow with brisk water

I am drunk as if on beer in your arms

I rejoice to the Sun that thawed my icy heart

Khnum, god of the potter's wheel, who made the flesh of man

He could not have crafted so perfect a mate as thee for me

I am bow at your alter of love

but you meerly smile and kiss my lips

Our worship opens the flood gate of life

I am complete

Alone In a Lost Time -- Marianne Elis by Elizabeth A. Strong

Lost in a long ago time

I never realized until now how furtile those words sound until now

I gaze into your tender green eyes but feel centuries away from the one I love

Like child enfolded in an indestructible myth

I feel this fairy tale come to life

has chained me like a ancient tomb, no way out, no escape

I cry my tears of shame and loss

feeling ungrateful and tore

Your strong arms hold me hush me little cries

but it is not enough

I see my reflection in the Nile

Coppery skin and linen dress

My blue eyes remain but all I can see

Is the face of stranger staring back at me

Will my friends of the future miss me?

Does Mum and Da call me on our Sundays?

Brother, my sibling, do you remember me?

Rath soothes my doubts as the river breeze shudders me closer in his breast

I am trapped by my future and chained to the past

I can move neither forward or back

Down the halls of Isis I teach and learn ancient mysteries I longed to know

However the only thing that endures is my fear

I can not tell my love my true feelings

Not even my friends understand just what I gave up to return here

Solitude is at best a fine wine drunk in silence

I settle into my love's arms, his tears burn with mine

For now this must be enough

I pray I have the strength to endure

Nile Lullabye -- Ashake sings to her son, Tharakenar, to sleep after Rath's death.

by Elizabeth A. Strong

Hush my star shine stop your tears

I will chase away all your fears

Close your eyes in the sleepy brine

Where stallions glide on moonlite wings

Where dreams are made of wonderous things

Hush my little one, my golden son

Through time is now asunder

In brief dreams we shall raid the dragon's plunder

Rest protected by furnace lungs

Water will cool your burning tongue

Hush my starry eyes

A moment longer I bide

On life's ever changing tide

Look in your heart I will always be there

Hush now, my star shine drift off to sleep

For dreams and promise I now must keep

Horus Is Crowned -- Prince Rapses in now Pharoah by E. Strong

Tall plumed son of Osiris

born of divine Isis

Great in strength, mighty in Heka

You of Kemet, Horus in the Nest, strong -armed

Lord of awe who silences pride

Sovereign of al the gods

Now are Msir

The Double Crown is set upon my brow

The weight of the golden collar is heavy

In my hands rests the Crook and Flail

Eye of Ra and Eye of Thoth

I am brother of Maat, lady of Justice

I hear the cries of my people shouting my name

"Rapsus-het-nef-amun, Chariot in the Glory of Re"

I am now the man Amemhotep wished

Why did I wish to run back to my tutor's study

and be the boy I was?

Why do I want to run by the hunter's side, my throw stick in hand,

to hunt the march birds among the reeds?

Why are the days of racing chariots with my best childhood friend

now running in my mind?

I wish to get dirty tussling with my bodyguard as his teachings land me

in the sand by a deft throw.

I want to run through the Market Place playing tag behind my friends.

Why is the turn of fate the death of my childhood?

I close my eyes to the sweet dreams of youth

My responsibilities are that of Msir now

The Royal Crown is heavy, my burden of my blood right

The sea of faces in the long hall of my ancestors is like a noose

I wish to cut off

But I am Pharoah!

I am King of Egypt!

The voice of my inner boy echos hallowly as I shut the door behind

Ashake in the Hall of Maat by E. Strong

It is now my turn to face the hands of time

How many circles have I done in the old loop?

I am guilty of minipulating Fate

for my past crimes now I must by the teacher

to those who have gone back

That is the way of Maat

I am her hand

For love, I deceived everything I held dear

to see the man I love through time

To save the life of a child I loved as my own

the young heir of a distant throne

I walk my path alone, happiness is a thing lost to me

My duty to keep

the hearts that will weep

crave their marks on my ka

like a lion's talon

I wish it did not have to be like this

I still beleive in the dreams of the heart

I can feel my beloved's kiss

I pray for strength to play my part

These poems were written by Java Goddess aka Elizabeth Strong from Feb 1999 - January 2000

These words took a very long time to write. I was inspired to write the feels and capture the emotions of the characters in the Homecoming on the Nile. I will be writing more. If you like my poems or want to use them please ask first. I can be contacted at Ashaket@yahoo.com or ladigrey@hotmail.com

My poetry takes a long time to write. I love writing and composing my own songs. So enjoy them.