Sheila Charles BANGLES AND BEADS
I’ve never been interested in shoes or handbags
They are not really my thing
But give me a bead or pearl necklace
Or a ruby or diamond ring-
Now, that is a different story,
So how excited was I
When reading The Treasures Of The Egyptian Museum –
I actually skimmed it, I do not lie.
I DID look at all the pictures.
They were amazing, I must admit.
Now I’m going to relate something
That thrilled me quite a bit.
Psusennes the First of Egypt
In the year B.C. nine,
Had a lapis lazuli necklace
Just the same as MINE.
I looked in my biscuit tin to check –
The tin doubles as my jewellery box-
I wear the blue beads in the summer
As they match one of my frocks.
Mine had nearly the same number of beads
Except HERS had one made of gold
And HERS was dedicated to a god Assur,
At least that’s what we weíre told!
To be honest, mine was better
Because my beads were a beautiful blue
Whereashers hers were a greyish colour.
I wonder if hers were brand new.
One of her beads had writing
Inscribed on it in cuneiform and so
The information was all there.
Thatís how I come to know!
So next time I wear my lapis lazuli beads
I will be very tempted to say,
íPsusennes the First of Egypt
Had some beads just like mine, okay?
But will anyone be interested?
I very much doubt it eh?
illustration by ume- nori
