u/Dutton_Jane_Reagan

I stumbled upon this specific translation buried inside an old, rare physical book I was reading today. It’s a piece of Ancient Egyptian poetry from the era of the pyramid-building pharaohs, simply known as the "Song of a Poor Man."

​"Who can I trust today?

Even my own blood brother turned out bad,

And friends are no longer reliable.

​Who can I talk to today?

Everyone is greedy and ruthless,

A neighbor steals from a neighbor's treasure.

​Who is left to mention?

Poverty is my only sworn brother now,

And I don't have a single real friend left.

​The breath of death is standing at my door,

Like the scent of a lotus flower."

​That last stanza is incredibly haunting. Comparing the breath of death to the sweet, calming scent of a lotus flower is such a striking and tragic image. After a lifetime of being backstabbed, surrounded by greed, and left with absolute nothingness, the writer doesn't fear the end—he welcomes it as a peaceful escape. A brutal, deeply moving reflection from 4,000 years ago.

​If anyone is interested in reading more aphorisms or quotes from this rare book, just let me know in the comments!