Poem: "Feathered Wings"

This poem came out of the September 7, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a discussion among ladyqkat, the_vulture, siliconshaman, and stryck about the history and evolution of Egyptian spirituality regarding the interaction of human and animal souls in the afterlife.  It was sponsored by ladyqkat. You can also read about the goddess Ma'at and her role in the afterlife, or browse one translation of the declarations that human souls are supposed to make to the 42 judges.

It is Bastet who keeps the Temple of Cats,
caring for those who have completed their nine mortal lives.

Beside them she watches the coming and going of stars
and fishes with tawny paws in the immortal Nile.

The stripes of their faces are as subtle and full of meaning
as the wind-waves on the golden dunes of the desert.

It is Anubis who keeps the Temple of Dogs,
tending the ones who have laid down their flesh.

Beside them he points his muzzle at the silver moon
and sings the celestial hymns.

Their tall black ears are as wise as the infinite night sky,
their eyes as hot and sharp as a sunbeam.

When a human soul approaches the Hall of Two Truths,
the pets are likewise summoned before the judges.

Bastet leads the cats between the questioners,
and the cats answer in their own way:

I have not stolen milk from my woman's pitcher.
I have not left live scorpions as a gift in my man's slipper.

Anubis leads the dogs along the path,
and the dogs swear to the watchers:

I have not bitten the messenger upon the doorstep.
I have not chewed at the tablet that the scribe assigned to my boy.

Then after the human soul and the animal soul
have been weighed by Ma'at and found to be worthy,

the Goddess of Truth lets her feather fall upon them
and the wings of their souls are opened.