Egypt

The work for Egypt that I have chosen is a poem from the New Kingdom. It is entitled "The Songs of the City of Memphis". This is a significant work because it actually consists of two poems, and the first one is recited by a woman. This shows the relative importance and significance of women in ancient Egypt. The poem also gives insight into the culture and values of ancient Egypt as the poetry centers around love, the human body, and pleasure.

The Songs of the City of Memphis

If I am not with you, where will you set your heart?

If you do not embrace me, where will you go?

If good fortune comes your way, you still cannot find happiness.

But if you try to touch my thighs and breasts,

Then you'll be satisfied.

Because you remember you are hungry

would you then leave?

Are you a man

thinking only of his stomach?

Would you walk off from me

concerned with your stylish clothes

and leave me the sheet?

Because of hunger

would you then leave me?

or because you are thirsty?

Take then my breast:

for you its gift overflows

Better indeed is one day in your arms...

than a hundred thousand anywhere on earth.

Distracting is the foliage of my pasture

the mouth of my girl is a lotus bud,

her breasts are mandrake apples,

her arms are vines,

her eyes are fixed like berries,

her brow a snare of willow,

and I the wild goose!

My beak snips her hair for bait,

as worms for bait in the trap.