An Ancient African Poem of Love
One,
the lady love without a duplicate,
more perfect than the world,
see, she is like the star rising
at the start of an auspicious year.
She whose excellence shines, whose body glistens,
glorious her eyes when she stares,
sweet her lips when she converses,
she says not a word too much.
High her neck and glistening her nipples,
of true lapis her hair,
her arms finer than gold,
her fingers like lotus flowers unfolding.
Her buttocks droop when her waist is girt,
her legs reveal her perfection;
her steps are pleasing when she walks the earth,
she takes my heart in her embrace.
She turns the head of every man,
all captivated at the sight of her;
everyone who embraces her rejoices,
for he has become the most successful of lovers.
When she comes forth, anyone can see
that there is none like that One.
*The above poem is the first
stanza of an ancient love poem from the
XVIIIth Dynasty of Kmt (Egypt of the Pharaohs).