His Majesty, Herself

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Before diving into the poem, I suggest you read this short background information to better understand the context and the message of my work on Queen Hatshepsut, the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, who claimed the throne in 1478 B.C. as the world's second female pharaoh. It's also important to note that this poem was inspired by Carol Ann Duffy's writing style, particularly by her anthology, 'The World's Wife', a collection of poems that give voice to the forgotten, misunderstood and often oppressed women of history and of fairy-tales.

Background: Hatshepsut was the daughter of King Thutmose I, but when he died, the throne passed on to one of his ‘secondary’ wives’ son, Thutmose II, as only a man could inherit the power. Hatshepsut was forced to marry her half-brother, to secure the bloodline, making her Queen of Egypt at 12 years old. Then, when Thutmose II passed, seeing as Hatshepsut only had a daughter, the throne once more passed to a ‘secondary’ wife’s son, Thutmose III, who was a baby at the time. As per custom, Hatshepsut became queen regent, filling the position until Thutmose III would be of age. However, by her 7th year of reign, Hatshepsut took full control of the throne, and was crowned as pharaoh to co-rule with Thutmose III, although she was the dominant figure. She claimed her father had chosen her as successor, and that she could speak to the gods.

Around this time, she also ordered that future statues and images of her would depict her in male form: a muscled king with a fake beard. Some historians say it was to defend the throne from another royal family, protecting it for her stepson, as the two seemed to get along. She also chose an honorific name Maatkare or Truth is Soul of the Sun God, to reassure she would bring prosperity and stability to Egypt. In fact, Hatshepsut’s reign is regarded as one of Egypt’s most prosperous, as she brought peace instead of war, forming a new trade route through Punt (today Ethiopia) and treaties, which brought gold and ivory. She also ordered the creation of some of Egypt’s greatest monuments, such as the Deir el-Bahri, considered one of the world’s architectural wonders. Hatshepsut was referred to with a mixture of male and female names, such as ‘His Majesty, Herself’.

She died in her mid-40s from probably bone cancer, and was buried in the Valley of Kings (although her body was not found there), the throne passing fully to Thutmose III. However, 20 years after her death, when Thutmose’s son was to sit on the throne, the King passed a verdict: to delete Hatshepsut from history. Her tomb, statues and images were destroyed, and her name crossed from the official king list. Some believe this was because her stepson felt threatened by her successful reign, and didn’t want it to be an inspiration to other women, while other historians think it was done to legitimise the bloodline of his son.

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Queen. King. Egyptian God.

Widow. Regent. Throne-thief.

Even now, the words haunt

as I haunt the empty dunes

of my beloved, sand-golden

Motherland.

Coarse sand rips my ghost face

the heat almost warms my cold heart

my gaze is fixed on the false son

King Thutmose,

more like King Cowardly Mouse

cowering behind the weight

of the crown

whispering orders to kill

Me. Hatshepsut.

Queen who should not have been.

Their axes pound

sweaty, rhythmic

the men beat to the beat of men

piece by piece

eyes gouged; heads of rock roll

royalty stripped; whole bodies ripped

out of control.

Their eyes alit with deadly flame

drunk on the sweet wine

of poisoned, poised, hungry beasts

razor-sharp teeth

claws lengthen, polished up

the final Act.

I silently scream

as my name, my glory, my fame

is mauled into the abyss

of forgotten, melancholy kings.

All that remains

of my great, true reign

dust, cobwebs

remind me again

my name?

Hatshepsut. She Who Never Was.

What great fools.

I am Maatkare

Soul of the Sun God

I am chosen by the fallen king

I am the prosperity of Egypt

I am the womanly man; manly woman

and yet my blood drips

down the ravaged tomb.