17.

Giving a Heart to Osiris

My heart sleeps in the house of hearts. My heart dreams in the house of hearts. It does not rest with me. It does not rest in the palm of my hand. On the east bank of the river, I am too sad to eat cake. White lilies float by on green water. A boat goes down the Nile. It comes back, having ferried another man to his tomb under the rocks. It hoists its sail for me.

I can't go. I haven't the heart.

Give me a mouth. I want to talk. Give me my severed legs and I'll walk. Give me hands and arms and fists and I'll shout and curse. I'll crush the skull of the snake. Throw open the door of heaven. Perhaps Ra has two jawbones to give me. He'll open my blind eyes, straighten my bent feet. He'll give me legs and I'll rise. I'll rise. By heaven I'll walk. I know my heart. It stirs within me. It throbs in my right hand. Blood quickens beneath my skin.

Give me my heart. Let it pump again life's power in me, infuse my hands and feet with spirit. Give me my heart. Let me rise and walk. I am quickened. No more sleep. No more dream. No more death.