David Paladin - Egyptos - 1982 - mixed media painting - stylized Egyptian angel

Prayer from Amonophis

Build me a temple not out of stone but of kindly words.

Surround it with soldiers armed not with spears but with song.

At the capstone of my pyramid place not gold but pure shining light.

Let my war cry be laughter.

Let there be no mourning in my kingdom.

For my soldiers and my subjects will not die by the sword

But shall be lifted up on clouds of love,

Accompanied by the winds of peace.

Soft rains shall fall upon my valleys.

And even the peaks of my mighty mountains shall

Burst forth with the scent of flowers sweeter than the lotus

And more pungent than the breath of God.

by David Chethlahe Paladin