Love songs and poems are a part of every culture in the world… Love is a universal language. It does not have any barrier, race, class, and even time! It is Love… simple, overflowing, and boundless… Some of the world’s oldest love poems were found in Egypt written several millenia ago. Amazing how timeless they are! I chose the picture of Pharaoh Ramses II and Queen Nefertari as it is well-known that Ramses II deeply loved her and had a temple built in her honor at Abu Simbel .

For this Valentine Day, enjoy this Love poem from Ancient Egypt, found in Deir el-Medina, dated about 1300 BC. It is part of the Chester Beatty Papyri I. As you read it, savor it slowly, and stop for a moment to ponder as the lover sings of his sweetheart as the fairest of all, her skin as bright as a star, her hair as precious as the lapis lazuli stone, stone highly valued in antiquity, her arms surpassing gold, her legs parading her beauty, and when she steps outside she is as the sun so beautiful she catches everyone’s attention. I have placed two of the most popular translations next to each other. Enjoy!

Sister Without Peer My one, my soul without peer, Most beautiful of all! Rising like the morning star At the start of happy year. Shining bright, fair of skin, Lovely the look of her eyes, Sweet the speech of her lips, She has not a word too much. Upright neck, shining breast, Hair true lapis lazuli; Arms surpassing gold, Fingers like lotus buds. Heavy thighs, narrow waist, Her legs parade her beauty; With graceful steps she treads the ground, Captures my heart by her movements. She causes all men’s necks To turn about to see her; Joy has he whom she embraces, He is like the first of men! When she steps outside She seems like the Sun!

“She has no rival,                 there is no one like her. She is the fairest of all. She is like a star goddess arising …    at the beginning of a new year; brilliantly white, shining skin; Such beautiful eyes when she stares, and sweet lips when she speaks; she has not one phrase too many. With a long neck and shining body her hair of genuine lapis lazuli; her arm more brilliant than gold; Her fingers like lotus flowers, ample behind, tight waist, her thighs extend her beauty, Shapely in stride   when she steps on the earth. She has stolen my heart with her embrace, She has made the neck of every man turn round at the sight of her. Whoever embraces her is happy, he is like the head of lovers, And she is seen going outside like That Goddess, the One Goddess.”