THE ASCENT OF ISHTAR
AT the first gate they gave the veil to Ishtar:
On earth a pear tree trembles into bloom,
The poplar weaves a web of changeful green and silver,
Lord Tammuz comes back from his dusty tomb.
At the second gate they sped her on the journey,
They gave her bracelets for her hands and slender feet:
Through the reeds the wind goes piping, piping,
The flutes of Tammuz are piping shrill and sweet.
And the jewelled circlet they bound about her waist.
Can a ruby make the Daughter of the Moon more fair?
Like bright spears in battle are the young men,
And the maidens braid the pomegranate blossoms in their hair.
About the breasts of Ishtar they bound the sumptuous ornaments.
The necklace they surrendered, and caused her to depart.
And the cedar knows the Lady’s strength and her dominions,
For the Dweller in the Morning Star makes strong the cedar’s heart.
At the sixth gate they brought to Lady Ishtar
The ear-rings, lovely as the silver-threaded rain;
On the housetops there is the pleasant sound of showers,
And on the slopes the green swords of grain.
At the seventh gate they crowned the Queen of Heaven,
She has brought back Tammuz from the house of death.
The winter is past, the rain is gone and over,
And sweet is the vineyard in the south wind’s breath.