Calling+Back+the+Ba+of+Osiris

Calling Back the Ba of Osiris

"Lonely, I have gone to bed, having lit the fire. My Ba is a restless bird that leaves to seek itself. For the falcon who breaks the confines of the shell, Even the sky it not enough eternity.

He may be tossed by storms of whirling sand or ride a hot wind above dunes. Far from here his voice may ring though the forests from the branches of a fruit tree. By the Nile he may wait silent among the reeds, Fish spawning as he sleeps, his head tucked in his wing.

I must rise, call the musicians and priests. I must have henna for the heads of dancers. I cannot dream like the idle, sleepless dead. I must rise and stir the fire. Burn saffron; remember my prayers. The smoke of incense will bring him home.

Though far and sailing, my Ba comes back to me. In his copper beak he carries my thoughts. On his back my starry dreams fly over mountains, over seas, over villages. Above the grape arbor it is I sailing with the falcon, triumphant.

Perhaps now he hovers near, flurry of dark wings beating the door; Or he follows the rivers and canals of gods, leading them through mountains; Or he binds the souls to the rags of mummies, filling dry hands with perfume. Old ones grasp their scepters and rise barefoot in the burning sand. Perhaps he twitters above barques with their cargoes of amethyst, sailing home.

Ah, my Ba's a restless bird. Words flow like rivers. Through my veins water churns on; On dark wings he flies from yesterday, Love in his throat, the warmth of light among his feathers, the risen sun in his hard, amber eye. If you see him, send him home to me. The heart is uncertain country."

Awakening the Osiris