“From the Great Above she opened her ear to the Great Below.
From the Great Above the goddess opened her ear to the Great Below
From the Great Above Inanna opened her ear to the Great Below. . .”
— Enheduanna, Priestess of Inanna in Sumer, The Descent of Inanna
(23rd Century BC; trans. Kramer and Wolkstein)

Once you blazed down a Goddess through the seventh cold gate
Till she crawled to the Underworld on naked knee—
You of honey-sweet voice and of most bitter fate!

For three days, for three nights, as the stars wheeled and ate,
Her contentiousness and disobedience shook like a key
As you blazed down your Goddess through the seventh cold gate,

heard her, bowed her, and stripped off her ornaments’ weight
Till she hung on the hook of revenge and cruelty,
You of honey-sweet voice and of most bitter fate.

Strong-haired reader, deep carver in stone and in state,
Abused Mother of Poets, you who named yourself proudly
When you blazed down your Goddess through the seventh cold gate —

We are here for her now. Guide us home to our great
Reborn lioness Inanna, as strong as she’s free!
You of honey-sweet voice and of most bitter fate,

Come to burn in us now, when it’s almost too late!
Turn us back through the touch of the freedom to be!
You, who blazed down our Goddess through the seventh cold gate,
Let your honey-sweet voice heal our most bitter fate!