Tetu is one rendering of the name of the Egyptian god of wisdom and learning, and inventer of writing. In English he is commonly called Thoth (sounding a little like "taught" Thoth taught people to write their thoughts), which is taken from the Greek rendering of his name Θώθ. The name transcribed from hieroglyphics to English is ḏḥwtj /dhwty, often written as Djehuty, or at times as Jehuti, Tehuti, Tahuti, Zehuti, Techu, Tetu.
Two of Thoth's many titles were, "Lord of Divine Words" and "The Timeless." He was also said to be self-created.
Couldn't we say, then, that this Lord of Divine Words is related in concept to the Word of God, the timeless one, who was with God in the beginning?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jn. 1:1
Word in John 1:1 is translated from the Greek Logos λογός. Which, in turn, can be related phonetically to the Gaulish god, Lugh or Lug, the god said to be "skilled in all arts", whom the Romans related to Mercury, in Greek Hermes, and Egyptian Thoth.
And isn't that Word, the primal word, OM? OM is the absolute, the OMnipotent, OMnipresent, the source, the Alpha and OMega.
What is a tattoo? It is a mark upon the skin. We get the word tattoo from the Tahitian and Samoan tatau, meaning "pigment design in skin". A Tau, T, is a Greek letter derived from the Phoenician taw, which looks like χ .
However, as a symbol it is so much more. Sometimes people use it to put their mark on a document instead of their name, as their signature or seal.
However, as a symbol it is so much more. Sometimes people use it to put their mark on a document instead of their name, as their signature or seal.
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death . . . Song of Solomon 8:6
Love is a contender. And God is love. The Word is love. He is the most stubborn love.
In French têtu means "stubborn". A tattoo is a thing of stubbornness. When you get one on your body, it is stuck on you. However, some things are worth being stuck with.
Manifest In Skin
ReplyDeletenot like the sunglow of tan which comes and goes
not like the day warmth of summer who grows
into heat only to repeat
its burn-out to winter
where the dry fall leaves whither
nobly in rich hues of age
supple youth evaporated, now sage
not the impermanence of potential
not the mere delusion's influential
attraction to the future
where proofs unsolicited
existence lies for granted
in her dynamic dreamland fancy
of daily mutability and vagrancy
not a draft to be perfected ever more
not a work in progress over which to pour
unable ever to say
enough, today's the day
creativity drained in the worried frame
work of needing to produce
of vying for that truce.
these are set in stone unmistakably prominent
these the set in stone solidity of tolerance
to be steady through the sway
the turbulence and fray
of upsetting random expectations
whose contours when perused
I did not choose.
Really good.
ReplyDeleteReading the title "Manifest in Skin", made me think about how people, i.e., the Adam, are God manifesting in flesh. So, it is kind of like we are God's tattoos. Each individual is a commitment. Once made, an eternal creation, and image and likeness of God.
That, then, reminded me about the Ray Bradbury book, "The Illustrated Man." It is interesting to think about. Each person is a story playing out upon the "skin" of God. But each person is, in turn, an image of that infinity and therefore an illustrated man himself...
Great post and connections Ember. Therin, I love your poem!
ReplyDelete