Crawling on hands and knees, dust filling up my mouth
I lift up my sand crusted eyes, and gaze to the distant south
Sun like a cruel chef, searing my flesh with its heat
Hazy, unclear images making a quick retreat…
Scorpions and hyenas, waiting for their feast
They know the sun is baking now, for the hungry beast
Desperation fills my heart, I keep a wary eye
For all the desert patrons, on the sand and in the sky…
Ahead in the distance, I see it – a shimmering, crystal lake!
My heart lifts to its beauty, my eyes would not forsake!
I focus on my new destination, excitement in my soul
But then, the image changes, to a large, dry sand -filled bowl…
Night falls like a curtain, of black uncertainty
Cold air takes the place of heat, seeming to mock me
I dig into the dry, hot sand, to find a safe retreat
I use my hands to cup the dirt, to dig – I use my feet…
The moon in the desert sky, lends a certain amount of light
This blesses me with the gift of necessary sight
So I toil with fervor at my task, for a safe bed for the night
The hungry beasts that watch me will face my final fight…
My foot hits something foreign, a hard yet unseen thing
My hands unearth my treasure – what gift did the desert bring?
A large iron box emerges, from the arid, dusty ground
Buried deep with the intention of never being found…
Inside the box of iron was another box, nestled inside
A bronze beauty, with deep, rich hues; gleaming with open pride
A wonder to behold, though redundant it all seemed
I wonder at the purpose, a ruse was what I deemed…
My shaking fingers lift the lid, to find yet still another
A Sycamore wooden box, hidden in the other
And when I lift yet that lid, the content is the same
A box of ivory and ebony is mine again to claim…
I gently tug the lid up, to see what lies inside
My heart is full of hope, my eyes are open wide
A small and silver box, its beauty shakes my soul
I place it on the sand, next to its burial hole…
Again, I lift its delicate lid, to feast my eyes inside
And I wonder what other riches; this bronze hued box could hide…
The last is by far the richest, a tiny box of gold
It’s delicate, graceful etching, of a message left untold
Inside this final treasure, from the way it seems to look –
Is an old and tattered thing – that I see is just a book…
But when I opened it’s time-darkened pages, I immediately knew what it was
And my heart sinks to depths unimagined – the reason is because…
This is The Book of Thoth – I recognize its content
I know the reader will be cursed, their knowledge left unspent…
I quickly put it back inside, and reassemble my find
I throw it back into the hole, as panic fills my mind
I hope that it is not too late, to save my curious soul
But alas, I know I’ve read too much, before reburial in the hole!
I decide then to use my gain, from just a single look
And I rue the day I found that buried evil book
I create a river of depth that runs through the desert’s domain
And, I fashion a craft which can take me, to safety once again…
For the finder of this knowledge, written by unknown hand
Is the knowledge of the universe, and sought throughout the land
But its finders all are cursed with death, for intruding on secrets untold
And their actions result in punishment, certain to unfold…
As I drift along in my boat, I gaze up to the stars above
And I whisper a prayer of salvation, to the mighty God of love
I ask for continued assistance, in my magical, hasty escape
And I ask to be forgiven, for my innocent mistake…
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Submission Name: The Book of Thoth
