Apep, the snake god
Up-Up was a snake god.
Up-Up wasn’t nice.
Up-Up used to frighten people.
Not just once or twice —
But every time he went to town
The people would all say:
“There’s Up-Up. He’s a snake god.”
And then they’d run away.
Lancaster, 1992.
When my son was very small, he’d say “Up! Up!” wanting to be picked up. I was irresistably reminded of the Egyptian god Apep and wrote this little rhyme. It was one of the first poems my son learned.
