User:Arcehedron/sumerian quotes

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The Song of Inanna and Dumuzi

"Inanna opened the door for him.

Inside the house she shone before him
Like the light of the moon.

Dumuzi looked at her joyously.

He pressed his neck close against hers. He kissed her.
Inanna spoke:

"What I tell you, Let the singer weave into song.
What I tell you, Let it flow from ear to mouth,

Let it pass from old to young:
My vulva, the horn,

The Boat of Heaven,

Is full of eagerness like the young moon.

My untilled land lies fallow.
As for me, Inanna,

Who will plow my vulva?
Who will plow my high field?

Who will plow my wet ground?...
Dumuzi replied:

"Great Lady, the king will plow your vulva.

I Dumuzi the King, will plow your vulva."
Inanna:
"Then plow my vulva, man of my heart!

Plow my vulva!"
At the king's lap stood the rising cedar.

Plants grew high by their side.
Grains grew high by their side.

Gardens flourished luxuriantly....
"O Lady, your breast is your field.

Inanna, your breast is your field.
Your broad field pours out plants.
Your broad field pours out grain.
Water flows from on high for your servant.
Bread flows from on high for your servant.
Pour it out for me, Inanna.

I will drink all you offer."
Inanna sang:

"Make your milk sweet and thick, my bridegroom.
My shepherd, I will drink your fresh milk.
Wild bull, Dumuzi, make your milk sweet and thick.

I will drink your fresh milk....
Dumuzi spoke:

"My sister, I would go with you to my garden.
Inanna, I would go with you to my garden.

I would go with you to my orchard.
I would go with you to my apple tree.

There I would plant the sweet, honey-covered seed."
Inanna spoke:

"He brought me into his garden.
My brother, Dumuzi, brought me into his garden.
I strolled with him among the standing trees,
I stood with him among the fallen trees,

By an apple tree I knelt as is proper....
Before my lord Dumuzi,

I poured out plants from my womb.
I placed plants before him,
I poured out plants before him.
I placed grain before him,
I poured out grain before him.

I poured out grain from my womb."
Inanna sang:

"Last night as I, the queen, was shining bright,
Last night as I, the Queen of Heaven, was shining bright,
As I was shining bright and dancing,

Singing praises at the coming of the night-
He met me - he met me!

My lord Dumuzi met me.
He put his hand into my hand.

He pressed his neck close against mine.
My high priest is ready for the holy loins.
My lord Dumuzi is ready for the holy loins.

The plants and herbs in his field are ripe.
O Dumuzi! Your fullness is my delight!"...
"Let the bed that rejoices the heart be prepared!


Let the bed that sweetens the loins be prepared!...
He put his hand in her hand.

He put his hand to her heart.
Sweet is the sleep of hand-to-hand.

Sweeter still the sleep of heart-to-heart.
Inanna spoke:

"I bathed for the wild bull,
I bathed for the shepherd Dumuzi,
I perfumed my sides with ointment,

I coated my mouth with sweet-smelling amber,

I painted my eyes with kohl.
He shaped my loins with his fair hands,

The shepherd Dumuzi filled my lap with cream and milk,
He stroked my pubic hair,
He watered my womb.
He laid his hands on my holy vulva,
He smoothed my black boat with cream,

He quickened my narrow boat with milk,

He caressed me on the bed.
Now I will caress my high priest on the bed,

I will caress the faithful shepherd Dumuzi,
I will caress his loins, the shepherdship of the land,

I will decree a sweet fate for him."
The Queen of Heaven,

The heroic woman, greater than her mother,

Who was presented the me by Enki,
Inanna, the First Daughter of the Moon,

Decreed the fate of Dumuzi:
In battle, I am your leader,

In combat I am your armor-bearer,
In the assembly I am your advocate,

On the campaign I am your inspiration....
In all ways you are fit.
May your heart enjoy long days....
As the farmer, let him make the fields fertile,

As the shepherd, let him make the sheepfolds multiply,
Under his reign let there be vegetation,

Under his reign let there be rich grain.
The king went with lifted head to the holy loins.

He went with lifted head to the loins of Inanna.
He went to the queen with lifted head.

He opened wide his arms to the holy priestess of heaven....
My blossom-bearer in the apple orchard,

My bearer of fruit in the apple orchard, ...
My fearless one, My holy statue,...
How sweet was your allure. . . ."

(Wolkenstein and Kramer 30)