A Contract Divorce, 18th Dynasty

He asked for her hand in marriage on the hottest day
before the great sands had shifted
or the fields had run dry for the year
They were wed on the river bank
Honey poured over their hands
Sweetness placed in their mouths
Symbols devoured, words exchanged
Dictated but not read
Until she came home from a long day
weaving in the market
to find him
sowing seeds in another field
shoving the symbols of god into their mouth
words exchanged, symbols dissolved
‘amicable split with land returned to the wife’