Queen Hatasu Descends to Throne

Abstract

Queen Hatasu Descends to Throne Sue William Silverman (bio) After death, my temple rubbles, porticos, obelisks drift windless Nile hills, gold pyramidion flecks, limestone chambers molder, lunar tug of time silencing Syene quarries, my pylons, colonnades thieved by Thothmes, as if he sailed to Punt for rosewood, ebony, teak to build Temple Dayr-el-Bahari - brother mine providing me no headrest, no glass vessels of juniper, almond, moringa to sweeten feathered transformation, no slate palette to color my face for Osiris, no Dwelling Place for Ba. Scarabaei dispersed, jasper lion head lost to Museum of Ghizeh, beloved turquoise signet ring in possession of English gentleman, Ushabti in Hague, sitting statue in Berlin, my Throne-Chair presented to British Museum after 1887 Jubilee exhibition. On restless, papyrus feet, a compassed lotus guiding me, I left Port of Thebes traveling to Pomona who fed me Roman apples, souling German, French towns, square bread with currants, wandered dark Celtic villages to Usinach warmed by Druid fires, arriving London disguised in king's kilt and sandals, crowned with Kepersh war-helmet, false beard, underground to Great Russell Street, descending steep steps to forgotten grottoes, damp cellars, wormholed rooms- pocketed onionskin letter received after numerous entreaties, [End Page 131] The piece that you refer to is within the Museum's collection although the provenance is now uncertain and consequently the object is not currently on display. C. Arnold, Visitor Services ...opening doors of dust - unframed paintings, chipped enamel bowls, tarnished metals, mildewed gowns, warped wood, until I behold Amen-Knum Hatasu, my Pharaonic Throne-Chair - Truth, Law, Justice- gold emblems, two basilisks with emerald eyes, crests erect, rosewood tails spiraling bull legs to hooves, fetlocks, crossrails banded in silver, encrusted reptile annulets, plated nails. Palm-frond cartouche Ra-ma-ka - tawny boxwood fingernails, hand hieroglyph... muscle flexing, gold cobra on my brow waking, its ribs spreading skin, uncoiling yellow, the uraeus necklacing my throat, slithering round my shoulders, oozing down torso, thighs, to the ground - undulating ancient memory of fluted vibrations, its hooded chevroned head swaying imperial pose, tongue flicking scent of Thothmes' black double shadowed in plaited seat - quick fiery akh spitting fury fanging his neck ... his moon darkens. My solar name sails toward Sahara heat... cobra sloughing skin, Wadjet swallowing tail circling my chamber of Divine Cow, Mother Nefertari, and home. Sue William Silverman Sue William Silverman’s first memoir, Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You (U of Georgia P) was a winner of the AWP Award Series. Her second, Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey Through Sexual Addiction, is available from W. W. Norton. Copyright © 2004 the University of Nebraska Press