Not+Allowing+Osiris+to+Decay

Not Allowing Osiris to Decay

"Body, how still you are. Are you dreaming? Body, are you thinking of old places, old things? The hands of Osiris lie crossed on his chest, The thumbs touch, two hands like the wings of a falcon. Why do the hands not fly away? Why does the soul not rise up?

The fingers of Osiris do not move. They do not take bread to his mouth. His lips are parched. He does not drink wine. His legs will not dance in this darkness. The worm inches through the dust.

Body, rise up singing. May my fingers practice making fists. May my legs quiver and my feet stamp. Body, do not dream the old, easy dreams forever. Flesh, do not rot and stink. Do not let my legs be eaten by worms. Do not let darkness overtake me.

Body, body, turn to light. Child of sky, child of earth, rise up and speak. Child of dawn, put on your crown. We'll travel far to the desert where the water bubbles up fresh from the rocks, Where the olive trees grow low to the ground among the wadi, Where the caves are cool and hermits live there keeping secrets."

Awakening the Osiris