Medinat Habu, outside Luxor, Egypt – a poem by Kathleen Calby

Medinat Habu, outside Luxor, Egypt

This, a temple at the site of the origin of creation, a primordial swamp, from which the god Amun rose. Known as the god of deities, he later merged with the sun god, Ra. 


Before, before, before humans broke
through the slime, before pharaohs
were formed, before temples built
for belief were set, the great god 
Amun appeared on this spot, mark
it now. Feel how energy rises 
from your soles, which is why 
stones are stacked in stately ways, 
why columns once held roofs,  
led paths into mystery,
because what can’t be spoken, 
can be prayer nonetheless. 

Kathleen Calby lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains and hosts writer events for the North Carolina Writers Network. Her work appears in San Pedro River Review, New Plains Review and The Orchards Poetry Journal. Named a 2022 Rash Award Poetry Finalist, Kathleen published Flirting with Owls (Kelsay Books) in 2023. Her Sufi background and other mystical associations contributed to a recent full-length manuscript she is completing about ancient and contemporary Egypt and the Pharaonic Era landmarks she was privileged to experience. Back home, Kathleen enjoys fried chicken and biscuits a bit too much and long, strenuous walks not enough.