ME, MYSELF & THE QUEEN OF THE NILE
ME, MYSELF & THE QUEEN OF THE NILE
In history I was known as the Queen of the Nile, born years before Christ. I ruled what you know as ancient Egypt. I however don’t particularly understand the word ancient. For me time is a bit of a mystery - a gift and mystery. When I was mortal I fought wars, spoke numerous languages and strategically advanced my country’s agendas. I was a woman of power in a time when women had little. As much pride as I took in educating myself in life, I am best known for my romantic liaisons. This reputation has followed me even into my after life.
In life, I was blessed with beauty and a body that not only captured men’s eyes, but also their hearts and souls if I wished. When I was queen, there’s many things I did that I’m not proud of, however a woman, a ruler must do what she must for her country. I was a good queen. I am proud of the mark I made in history. For centuries after my death, I have been the inspiration of much literature and art. My favorite is Shakespeare’s take on my relationship with Mark Antony. The true story of our relationship had much more action than dialogue.
My relationship with Mark is not so simple it can’t be written in words. It was complicated back then and even more so after death. I don’t know why I have continued on after death. Sometimes I think my life after death is heaven, mostly it’s hell. The sins I have sinned in life continue to follow me, like the shadow on a sundial going in a circle. Why do I go on?
It’s not as if I have a choice. I am a slave to the cosmic force that rules my afterlife. She is both a friend and foe. I believe I was chosen to continue on because my passion in life was too strong to die, my passion for love, sex and -- well mostly sex. I was and continue to be a great lover, arguably the world’s greatest. When I ruled Egypt I conquered empires by my persuasion of the flesh. What history overlooks, is it took a lot of intelligence to manipulate the men of power back then. I was a mastermind for my country, using my body to secure Egypt’s future.
My death was not a peaceful one. It was believed that I committed suicide. That’s not the case. The great Cleopatra was actually cursed and killed by one of the village Gypsies. I had persuaded/charmed a local farmer into selling his livestock to my royal kitchen. He mistook our interlude for something more than it was. When I refused him at our next meeting, he returned home and killed himself. His wife, a gypsy from God knows where, placed a curse on a Asp, a poisonous snake who bit me. It was a slow and agonizing death. I believe the curse the snake carried is the reason I continue on in this cosmic space, in this abyss of an afterlife.
After my death, my body was laid to rest next to my beloved Antony in our tomb, in the most opulent pyramid ever built and to this day has yet to be discovered. When I’m not transported through the cosmic force to a happier place, I am imprisoned within the walls with my belove Antony as two entities with no physical bodies and no way of communicating with each other. This is the hell of my afterlife. After years, centuries -- no after millenia, I believe I have finally accomplished a way to tell my story with a combination of hieroglyphics and the languages I know, I will use a piece of charcoal to write my story on the walls of my tomb. So one day, the story of my life and afterlife can be shared with all. This is my afterlife.
When I am not beckoned into the cosmic light, I roam aimlessly within the pyramid walls. I am constantly reminded of the innocent lives that were taken because of my death as my tomb is filled with the bodies of servants and slaves. There’s one room, a discreet hidden unmarked compartment on the bottom of my piramyd where my lovers are cased. I had many. Don’t get me wrong, my heart, the love of my life and afterlife is and will always be Antony, but we were rulers, our pleasures were a priority. When we couldn’t be with each other, we made due with whom was available. I’m sure we each had our favorites. What I regret today, is that they weren’t given a choice. Sure, men have killed to be with me, but those who I took to my bed, I wish I knew for sure they wanted to be there, and not just to fulfill their duty.
More than anything, I wish Antony and I can talk to each other in our tomb. Just talk, at times human touch is gifted to us through the cosmic light. How I would just love to hear my beloved’s voice again, talk of the days we ruled Egypt. Yes, when we transport into the light, we do get to speak with each other, but it’s limited. We learned early on that our transport to these physical excursions limits our communication. If our dialogue isn’t based in passion, our spirits fade away from the living we inhabit.
My love for Mark Antony is deep, after all this time, it still stirs deep in my soul, like the Nile. He and I had such fun together. Our nights were filled with passion, wine binges and feasts. Even as rulers, we’d secretly dress up as peasants and play pranks on the villagers of Alexandria. We were even as so bold to make love in public places just for the spectacle of it. I guess that’s what made our relationship so historic, even after all these years. When we transport, we’re still this wild and adventurous. I believe that’s why we were chosen for this path. Although we’ve never been told how it works, I believe when a living couple reaches its peak of passion, when two people finally achieve the level of love and heated passion Mark and I have shared, Mark and I are invited to -- take over. Yes, we transport through the cosmic light that beckons us and inhabit the bodies of these lovers. It’s such a blessing when this happens, to take a break from our burial chamber and share the pleasures of the flesh once again with each other.
I don’t know how it works, but I don’t believe the time we spend outside the tomb is linear. Although we can’t explore much of our surroundings when we inhabit, I have seen things, technology far beyond the capabilities of my time. I have seen fashion, style and heard music spanning centuries. I get most excited to be in the 2000’s. Then, the women are strong and powerful, the architecture and buildings are amazing.
At the bottom floor of my triangular tomb, I can see from my the corner of my eye-- a light. I ache with anticipation. If I had my physical body, I’d be running as fast as I can, but now I gravitate to the glowing abyss and give myself entirely to this cosmic cloud.
