among the ancient Egyptians
the one to be judged
was led to the hall of double
justice in the grasp of the hyena-headed
god.
in the center of the hall stands the
scale of eternity where the heart
of the penitant is weighed
against the feather of
truth.
beside the scale crouches
Ammut, part lion, hippopotamus,
& crocodile, poised tensely to
devour the guilty
heart.
the most honorable petitioner,
henry hyde,
is about to
speak.
the crocodile gasps.
the gods fall silent.