from The Hymn to Inanna

By Enheduanna

Translated By Jane Hirshfield

Lady of all powers,

In whom light appears,

Radiant one

Beloved of Heaven and Earth,

Tiara-crowned

Priestess of the Highest God,

My Lady, you are the guardian

Of all greatness.

Your hand holds the seven powers:

You lift the powers of being,

You have hung them over your finger,

You have gathered the many powers,

You have clasped them now

Like necklaces onto your breast.

—

Like a dragon,

You poisoned the land—

When you roared at the earth

In your thunder,

Nothing green could live.

A flood fell from the mountain:

You, Inanna,

Foremost in Heaven and Earth.

Lady riding a beast,

You rained fire on the heads of men.

Taking your power from the Highest,

Following the commands of the Highest,

Lady of all the great rites,

Who can understand all this is yours?

—

In the forefront

Of the battle,

All is struck down by you—

O winged Lady,

Like a bird

You scavenge the land.

Like a charging storm

You charge,

Like a roaring storm

You roar,

You thunder in thunder,

Snort in rampaging winds.

Your feet are continually restless.

Carrying your harp of sighs,

You breathe out the music of mourning.

—

It was in your service

That I first entered

The holy temple,

I, Enheduanna,

The highest priestess.

I carried the ritual basket,

I chanted your praise.

Now I have been cast out

To the place of lepers.

Day comes,

And the brightness

Is hidden around me.

Shadows cover the light,

Drape it in sandstorms.

My beautiful mouth knows only confusion.

Even my sex is dust.

—

What once was chanted of Nanna,

Let it now be yours—

That you are as lofty as Heaven,

Let it be known!

That you are as wide as the Earth,

Let it be known!

That you devastate the rebellious,

Let it be known!

That you roar at the land,

Let it be known!

That you rain your blows on their heads,

Let it be known!

That you feast on corpses like a dog,

Let it be known!

That your glance is lifting toward them,

Let it be known!

That your glance is like striking lightning,

Let it be known!

That you are victorious,

Let it be known!

That this is not said of Nanna

It is said of you—

This is your greatness.

You alone are the High One.

—

O my Lady,

Beloved of Heaven,

I have told your fury truly.

Now that her priestess

Has returned to her place,

Inanna's heart is restored.

The day is auspicious,

The priestess is clothed

In beautiful robes,

In womanly beauty,

As if in the light of the rising moon.

The gods have appeared

In their rightful places,

The doorsill of Heaven cries "Hail!"

Praise to the destroyer endowed with power,

To my Lady enfolded in beauty.

Praise to Inanna.

Copyright Credit: Translations by Jane Hirshfield from Women in Praise of the Sacred edited by Jane Hirshfield. Copyright (c) 1994 by Jane Hirshfield. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.

Source: Women in Praise of the Sacred (HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 1994)