These poems are from a series inspired by reading Atlas Obscura stories while listening to a music genre randomly selected from my list. The poems were written immediately after reading, still while listening to the randomly chosen music. Please share and/ or click the “clap” button at the bottom if you enjoyed this.

Ancient Egypt’s Ibis Mummies Were Probably Not Raised in Giant Sacred Ranches

Barbershop quartet

We’re gonna give you a medley
of all these birdie throats
we’re gonna take you back
to the good ol’ days of Horus and Thoth
when men had beasts for heads
We’ll start out on the mouth harp
we’ll wear our matching hats
It’ll be like the good ol’ days
Beaks over bodies, a jar fit for a god

Now we’re gonna harmonize
in Hermopolis, thrice blessed,
our baritone is half lion
our lead’s a mortgage lender

there’s a picture oft’ appearing
in Abydos and Thebes
of a bird extinct
and well-preserved
these are the good ol’ days.

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