Schism
Your grandfather
strode erect as he drove his cattle
numbering his herds and his grain
His ancestors, master craftsmen,
the pride of Adam’s farm
strong as eagles
as wise as the raven
Your grandmother
prepared the garmasis – the bridal garment
precious heirloom of your mother
witness to her desire and your integrity –
that itself awaited
the drop of virgin blood
as she knelt
blessed with humility
blessing her bloodline
Is this his sacrificial altar?
Or the prayer mat of your grandmother?
Bronze offering table, bearing a depiction of the offering-table, flowers and water-jars used for making libations and offerings to deities and the deceased. Found at a river sanctuary at Meroe, in excavations directed by John Garstang 1913–1914 (his ‘Shrine 1000’). 200 bc–ad 100. uc43987
Unseen crack
your ancient Grandmother,
was preparing the (Garmasis)*
for her,
the splendour of her Mother,
the heirloom of her integrity and burning desire
preparing for her the drop of Blood,
the root of her virgin fertility
not her Hymen (virginity),
kneeling in humility, bless-fully
blessing her blood line
your Grandfather walking erect, ushering his cattle,
counting his harvest and herd
his ancestors, the founders of crafts,
were the finest in the son of Adam’s farm
enlightened by the strength of the Eagle
and the wisdom of the Raven
is it the Altar for sacrificial feast or the praying matt of your present Grandmother?
The title ‘Schism’ points to the fissures over the brittle deep green surface of the object. It was prompted here in particular by the crack across the outward offering- channel above the depiction of the offering-table, alerting us to the fragility of the archaeological find.
Sarah Maguire, Poet-translator
* Garmasis, is a coloured sheet of silky fabric, worn (rapped around), (in the past) by the bride on her wedding night, specially on the night of consummation of marriage, it represents a subtle, unspoken symbol, among others, of sexual activeness within marriage, and usually part of the things that a new bride must have in her wardrobe when she go to live with her husband.
Atef Alshaer, Literal Translator