MODERN HYMNS AND POETRY FOR HATHOR

Song of Hathor
by Lykeia

Cease the busy work, listen to the singing breeze,
The stars wink from the heavens to Hathor they sing.
The heavenly heifer is star-spotted, and there they dance,
Hail to the goddess of all love, of beauty and romance!
The taste of honey is her kiss, the drone of bees her lure,
Her turquoise-dusted eyes sparkle and laugh in such delight,
Uncoil dancing serpent, to the song, and bring the tender light.

Hathor, perfumed and water-clad, arises in the heavens,
The shining stars adorn, winking and smiling down,
What fair beauty the bright-cheeked goddes horn-crowned,
Aloft in her kindly embrace the sun, the daystar, rises!
Lover and mother, wanton and pure, Hathor, goddess and woman!
Such fair contradiction, lusty eyes in an sweet flower face,
Music, dance, love and song rush happily to her embrace.

For Hathor delights in all such sweet earthly joys,
To be greeted as a lover much welcomed and beloved,
And her gentle administered gifts touch her children in life,
And they touch her children in life within the halls of dead beyond.
Do not be decieved by the tinkle of her rising laugher,
Nor by the gay melody that she enjoys to have composed.
Be not decieved by this goddess of joy, bright-laughing one,
Because beyond that fair face, death is the hidden claw.

Hymn to Hethert
by HineniHetheret

Hail to You, O' Hethert,
Lady in the House of Jubilation!
All the Gods of Heaven bow before You,
for Your face brings comfort and Your smile brings Joy.
Blessed are they who make offerings on Your altars;
doubly blessed are those upon whom You bestow favor!
O' Hethert, Mistress of All,
grant unto us love,
Your highest grace!

To Hathor
by Phillupus

O Most Generous Lady,
Golden-skinned and horned-headdressed,
crowned with solar disk and sistrum--
you give rhythm to the dancers
and song to the pious ones!

They sing your praises in Dendera,
at Philae and Deir el-Medina,
at Byblos and the Sinai and far-off Nubia--
you give rhythm to the dancers
and song to the pious ones!

You are she who is Lady of the West,
decorated with turquoise and faience,
and given offerings of papyrus plants--
you give rhythm to the dancers
and song to the pious ones!

You lifted your skirts for your father,
Re-Harakhte, highest of the gods,
to make him laugh, forgetting anger--
your jars of wine pour out
into cups of revelry!

You were the Eye of Re sent down
to destroy mankind as Sekhmet,
but with red beer you were pacified--
your jars of wine pour out
into cups of revelry!

As Mertseger of coiling form,
Renenutet the protecting uraeus,
you are divine mother of Horus--
your jars of wine pour out
into cups of revelry!

With Horus as your husband
you were mother of Ihy the musician
who of quiet voice is delight to all--
your jars of wine pour out
into cups of revelry!

With Sobek of fierce aspect
you became mother of Khnum,
shaper upon the potter's wheel--
your jars of wine pour out
into cups of revelry!

You are the blessed cow
stretching across the night sky,
mother and devourer of the sun--
you are the milk-giver of heaven,
the form of benevolence!

You are the peaceful mother,
former of Isis, former of Nut,
receiver of all into the Western Lands--
you are the milk-giver of heaven,
the form of benevolence!

As we pour out praises for you,
may your many vessels flow down
with love for your devoted ones
like the fat of the never-ending herds
may your bounty not be diminished,
O Welcomer, O Most Generous Lady!
You are the milk-giver of heaven,
the form of benevolence!