Love Poetry

For my Ancient World Literature class we got to read some ancient love poetry and songs. Here's one of my favorites: it's an Egyptian love poem from about 1570-1090 B.C.E. translated by W.K. Simpson. It just goes to show that situations and sentimentality hasn't changed. Nor the way we show affection.

The voice of the turtledove speaks out

The voice of the turtledove speaks out. It says:
day breaks, which way are you going?

Lay off, little bird,
must you so scold me?
I found my lover on his bed,
and my heart was sweet to excess,

We said:

I shall never be far away from you
while my hand is in your hand,
and I shall stroll with you
in every favorite place.

He set me as first of the girls
and he does not break my heart.

And just to show that some things don't change after 3580 years:

I embrace her, and her arms open wide

I embrace her, and her arms open wide,
I am like a man in Punt,
like someone overwhelmed with drugs.
I kiss her,
her lips open,
and I am drunk
without a beer.


I don't care what people say
The rush is worth the price I pay
I get so high when you're with me
But crash and crave you when you are away
Because you're love, your love, your love, is my drug.

K$SHA and the Egyptians seem to have a similar thought process.

I just love to see that 3000 year old poetry is still our poetry today. That love is the same as it ever was.

1/19/11