What she read was a series of short connected lyrics, "Isis in Darkness." The Egyptian Queen of Heaven and Earth was wandering in the Underworld, gathering up pieces of the murdered and dismembered body of her lover Osiris. At the same time, it was her own body she was putting back together; and it was also the physical universe. She was creating the universe by an act of love.
In "Wilderness Tips" by Margaret Atwood, a series of connected lyrics titled "Isis in Darkness" presents a powerful narrative involving the Egyptian goddess Isis. She is portrayed wandering the Underworld, in search of the dismembered remains of her beloved Osiris. This poignant imagery symbolizes not only her devotion to him but also her struggle to reconstruct her own identity.
The act of piecing together Osiris's body mirrors Isis's personal journey of self-restoration, highlighting the profound connection between love and creation. Through this mythological reference, Atwood suggests that acts of love are akin to creative forces, emphasizing how such emotions can shape the universe itself.
