Pious, Pious, Pious Papyri
If you were set the challenge, “Think about
The most surreal conflation of the facts
From distant times,” I wager (with no doubt
That I would win the bet) that certain acts
In ancient Egypt would be well beyond
Your best (or worst) imaginings. I do
Not mean the rather sacred, odd, and fond
Relgious notion that a Pharaoh’s spew
Of semen in the Nile would guarantee
A great big harvest. No. I mean that crocs
Were wrapped in documents to keep them free
From rotting. Egypt’s holy priestly docs
Had mummified these sacred beasts and bound
Them up in olden verse. Strangeness profound.