“Even when I danced erect 
by the Nile’s garden 
I constructed Necropolis. 
 
“Ten million fellaheen cells 
of my body floated stones 
to establish a white museum.” 
 
Grisly, foul, and terrific 
is the speech of bones, 
thighs and arms slackened 
 
into desiccated sacs of flesh 
hanging from an armature 
where muscle was, and fat. 
 
“I lie on the painted bed 
diminishing, concentrated 
on the journey I undertake 
 
“to repose without pain 
in the palace of darkness, 
my body beside your body.”