Ancient Egyptian and Sumerian Poems
Mar. 3rd, 2006 12:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieWanted to post some Ancient Egyptian and Sumerian love poetry. There is something really amazing about reading poetry 4000 years old (I can barely imagine such a huge amount of time) and seeing how similar people's emotions have always been. Plus, I think they are good poems.
These are Egyptian from circa 2000-1100 BC. Also, no incest, thankfully, as it was the standard practice to use the endearment 'brother' or 'sister' to refer one's beloved.
I.
Your love has penetrated all within me
Like honey plunged into water,
Like an odor which penetrates spices,
As when one mixes juice in... ......
Nevertheless you run to seek your sister,
Like the steed upon the battlefield,
As the warrior rolls along on the spokes of his wheels.
For heaven makes your love
Like the advance of flames in straw,
And its longing like the downward swoop of a hawk.
II.
Seven days since I saw my sister,
And I am sick inside.
My limbs are weak,
My body fails.
When the doctors come to me,
My heart refuses their remedies;
The magicians can do nothing,
My sickness is unknown.
But only say "She is here" and I revive.
The sound of her name would make me well;
The sight of her messenger coming,
That would heal my heart!
My sister is better than all their medicines,
She does more for me than all their potions;
She is my charm
For the sight of her makes me well.
When I see her eyes then my body is young,
When I hear her voice then I am strong,
Holding her close I feel no pain...
Seven days since she has gone.
III.
Thou beautiful one! My heart's desire is
To procure for you your food as your husband,
My arm resting upon your arm.
You have changed me by your love.
Thus say I in my heart,
In my soul, at my prayers:
"I lack my commander tonight,
I am as one dwelling in a tomb."
Be you but in health and strength,
Then the nearness of your countenance
Sheds delight, by reason of your well-being,
Over a heart, which seeks you with longing.
IV.
The voice of the dove calls,
It says: "The earth is bright."
What have I to do outside?
Stop, thou birdling! You chide me!
I have found my brother in his bed,
My heart is glad beyond all measure.
We each say:
"I will not tear myself away."
My hand is in his hand.
I wander together with him
To every beautiful place.
He makes me the first of maidens,
Nor does he grieve my heart.
V.
My one, the sister without peer,
The handsomest of all!
She looks like the rising morning star
At the start of a happy year.
Shining bright, fair of skin,
Lovely the look of her eyes,
Sweet the speech of her lips,
She has not a word too much.
Upright neck, shining breast,
Hair true lapis lazuli;
Arms surpassing gold,
Fingers like lotus buds.
Heavy thighs, narrow waist,
Her legs parade her beauty;
With graceful step she treads the ground,
Captures my heart by her movements.
She causes all men's necks
To turn about to see her;
Joy has he whom she embraces,
He is like the first of men!
When she steps outside she seems
Like of the Sun!
VI.
I wish I were your mirror
so that you always looked at me.
I wish I were your garment
so that you would always wear me.
I wish I were the water that washes
your body.
I wish I were the unguent, O woman,
that I could annoit you.
And the band around your breasts,
and the beads around your neck.
I wish I were your sandal
that you would step on me!
VII.
O my beautiful one,
I wish I were part of your affairs, like a wife.
With your hand in mine
your love would be returned.
I implore my heart:
"If my true love stays away tonight,
I shall be like someone already
in the grave."
Are you not my health and my life?
How joyful is your good health
for the heart that seeks you!
VIII.
My heart flutters hastily,
When I think of my love of you;
It lets me not act sensibly,
It leaps from its place.
It lets me not put on a dress,
Nor wrap my scarf around me;
I put no paint upon my eyes,
I'm even not anointed.
"Don't wait, go there," says it to me,
As often as I think of him;
My heart, don't act so stupidly,
Why do you play the fool?
Sit still, the brother comes to you,
And many eyes as well.
Let not the people say of me:
"A woman fallen through love!"
Be steady when you think of him,
My heart, do not flutter!
IX.
I passed before his house,
I found his door ajar;
My brother stood by his mother,
And all his brothers with him.
Love of him captures the heart
Of all who tread the path;
Splendid youth who has no peer,
Brother outstanding in virtues!
He looked at me as I passed by,
And I, by myself, rejoiced;
How my heart exulted in gladness,
My brother, at your sight!
If only the mother knew my heart,
She would have understood by now;
O Golden One, put it in her heart,
Then will I hurry to my brother!
I will kiss him before his companions,
I would not weep before them;
I would rejoice at their understanding
That you acknowledge me!
I will make a feast for my goddess,
My heart leaps to go;
To let me see my brother tonight,
O happiness in passing!
X.
My sister's love is on the far side.
The river is between our bodies;
The waters are mighty at flood-time,
A crocodile waits in the shallows.
I enter the water and brave the waves,
My heart is strong on the deep;
The crocodile seems like a mouse to me,
The flood as land to my feet.
It is her love that gives me strength,
It makes a water-spell for me;
I gaze at my heart's desire,
As she stands facing me!
My sister has come, my heart exults,
My arms spread out to embrace her;
My heart bounds in its place,
Like the red fish in its pond.
O night, be mine forever,
Now that my queen has come!
Here are the Sumerian love poems (the sister/brother thing is the same):
I.
Let them erect for me my flowered bed.
Let them spread it for me
with herbs like translucent lapis lazuli.
For me let them bring in the man of my heart.
Let them bring in to me my Ama-ucumgal-ana.
Let them put his hand in my hand,
let them put his heart by my heart.
As hand is put to head, the sleep is so pleasant.
As heart is pressed to heart, the pleasure is so sweet.
II.
While I, the lady, was passing the day yesterday,
while I, Inana, was passing the day yesterday,
while I was passing the day, while I was dancing,
while I was singing songs all day until evening,
he met me, he met me.
The lord, the friend of An, met me;
the lord took me in his hands,
Ucumgal-ana embraced me about my neck.
"......, let me go, so that I can go to our house!
Friend of Enlil, let me go, so that I can go to our house!
What lie can I offer to my mother?
What lie can I offer to my mother Ningal?"
"Let me teach you, let me teach you! Inana,
let me teach you the lies of women:
"My girlfriend was dancing with me in the square.
She ran around playfully with me, banging the drum.
She sang her sweet songs for me.
I passed the day there with her in pleasure and delight."
Offer this as a lie to your own mother.
As for us—let me make love with you by moonlight!
Let me loosen your combs on the holy and luxuriant couch.
May you pass a sweet day there with me in voluptuous pleasure.
III.
My dearest, my dearest, my dearest, my darling,
my darling, my honey of her own mother,
my sappy vine, my honey-sweet,
my honey-mouthed of her mother.
"The gazing of your eyes is pleasant to me;
come my beloved sister.
The speaking of your mouth is pleasant to me,
my honey-mouthed of her mother.
The kissing of your lips is pleasant to me;
come my beloved sister.
"My sister, the beer of your barley is good,
my honey-mouthed of her mother.
The ale of your beer-bread is good;
come my beloved sister.
"My desirable one, my desirable one,
your charms are lovely,
my desirable apple garden,
your charms are lovely.
My fruitful garden of mes trees,
your charms are lovely,
my one who is in herself Dumuzid-abzu,
your charms are lovely.
My holy statuette, my holy statuette,
your charms are lovely.
My alabaster statuette adorned with a lapis-lazuli jewel,
your charms are lovely.
These are Egyptian from circa 2000-1100 BC. Also, no incest, thankfully, as it was the standard practice to use the endearment 'brother' or 'sister' to refer one's beloved.
I.
Your love has penetrated all within me
Like honey plunged into water,
Like an odor which penetrates spices,
As when one mixes juice in... ......
Nevertheless you run to seek your sister,
Like the steed upon the battlefield,
As the warrior rolls along on the spokes of his wheels.
For heaven makes your love
Like the advance of flames in straw,
And its longing like the downward swoop of a hawk.
II.
Seven days since I saw my sister,
And I am sick inside.
My limbs are weak,
My body fails.
When the doctors come to me,
My heart refuses their remedies;
The magicians can do nothing,
My sickness is unknown.
But only say "She is here" and I revive.
The sound of her name would make me well;
The sight of her messenger coming,
That would heal my heart!
My sister is better than all their medicines,
She does more for me than all their potions;
She is my charm
For the sight of her makes me well.
When I see her eyes then my body is young,
When I hear her voice then I am strong,
Holding her close I feel no pain...
Seven days since she has gone.
III.
Thou beautiful one! My heart's desire is
To procure for you your food as your husband,
My arm resting upon your arm.
You have changed me by your love.
Thus say I in my heart,
In my soul, at my prayers:
"I lack my commander tonight,
I am as one dwelling in a tomb."
Be you but in health and strength,
Then the nearness of your countenance
Sheds delight, by reason of your well-being,
Over a heart, which seeks you with longing.
IV.
The voice of the dove calls,
It says: "The earth is bright."
What have I to do outside?
Stop, thou birdling! You chide me!
I have found my brother in his bed,
My heart is glad beyond all measure.
We each say:
"I will not tear myself away."
My hand is in his hand.
I wander together with him
To every beautiful place.
He makes me the first of maidens,
Nor does he grieve my heart.
V.
My one, the sister without peer,
The handsomest of all!
She looks like the rising morning star
At the start of a happy year.
Shining bright, fair of skin,
Lovely the look of her eyes,
Sweet the speech of her lips,
She has not a word too much.
Upright neck, shining breast,
Hair true lapis lazuli;
Arms surpassing gold,
Fingers like lotus buds.
Heavy thighs, narrow waist,
Her legs parade her beauty;
With graceful step she treads the ground,
Captures my heart by her movements.
She causes all men's necks
To turn about to see her;
Joy has he whom she embraces,
He is like the first of men!
When she steps outside she seems
Like of the Sun!
VI.
I wish I were your mirror
so that you always looked at me.
I wish I were your garment
so that you would always wear me.
I wish I were the water that washes
your body.
I wish I were the unguent, O woman,
that I could annoit you.
And the band around your breasts,
and the beads around your neck.
I wish I were your sandal
that you would step on me!
VII.
O my beautiful one,
I wish I were part of your affairs, like a wife.
With your hand in mine
your love would be returned.
I implore my heart:
"If my true love stays away tonight,
I shall be like someone already
in the grave."
Are you not my health and my life?
How joyful is your good health
for the heart that seeks you!
VIII.
My heart flutters hastily,
When I think of my love of you;
It lets me not act sensibly,
It leaps from its place.
It lets me not put on a dress,
Nor wrap my scarf around me;
I put no paint upon my eyes,
I'm even not anointed.
"Don't wait, go there," says it to me,
As often as I think of him;
My heart, don't act so stupidly,
Why do you play the fool?
Sit still, the brother comes to you,
And many eyes as well.
Let not the people say of me:
"A woman fallen through love!"
Be steady when you think of him,
My heart, do not flutter!
IX.
I passed before his house,
I found his door ajar;
My brother stood by his mother,
And all his brothers with him.
Love of him captures the heart
Of all who tread the path;
Splendid youth who has no peer,
Brother outstanding in virtues!
He looked at me as I passed by,
And I, by myself, rejoiced;
How my heart exulted in gladness,
My brother, at your sight!
If only the mother knew my heart,
She would have understood by now;
O Golden One, put it in her heart,
Then will I hurry to my brother!
I will kiss him before his companions,
I would not weep before them;
I would rejoice at their understanding
That you acknowledge me!
I will make a feast for my goddess,
My heart leaps to go;
To let me see my brother tonight,
O happiness in passing!
X.
My sister's love is on the far side.
The river is between our bodies;
The waters are mighty at flood-time,
A crocodile waits in the shallows.
I enter the water and brave the waves,
My heart is strong on the deep;
The crocodile seems like a mouse to me,
The flood as land to my feet.
It is her love that gives me strength,
It makes a water-spell for me;
I gaze at my heart's desire,
As she stands facing me!
My sister has come, my heart exults,
My arms spread out to embrace her;
My heart bounds in its place,
Like the red fish in its pond.
O night, be mine forever,
Now that my queen has come!
Here are the Sumerian love poems (the sister/brother thing is the same):
I.
Let them erect for me my flowered bed.
Let them spread it for me
with herbs like translucent lapis lazuli.
For me let them bring in the man of my heart.
Let them bring in to me my Ama-ucumgal-ana.
Let them put his hand in my hand,
let them put his heart by my heart.
As hand is put to head, the sleep is so pleasant.
As heart is pressed to heart, the pleasure is so sweet.
II.
While I, the lady, was passing the day yesterday,
while I, Inana, was passing the day yesterday,
while I was passing the day, while I was dancing,
while I was singing songs all day until evening,
he met me, he met me.
The lord, the friend of An, met me;
the lord took me in his hands,
Ucumgal-ana embraced me about my neck.
"......, let me go, so that I can go to our house!
Friend of Enlil, let me go, so that I can go to our house!
What lie can I offer to my mother?
What lie can I offer to my mother Ningal?"
"Let me teach you, let me teach you! Inana,
let me teach you the lies of women:
"My girlfriend was dancing with me in the square.
She ran around playfully with me, banging the drum.
She sang her sweet songs for me.
I passed the day there with her in pleasure and delight."
Offer this as a lie to your own mother.
As for us—let me make love with you by moonlight!
Let me loosen your combs on the holy and luxuriant couch.
May you pass a sweet day there with me in voluptuous pleasure.
III.
My dearest, my dearest, my dearest, my darling,
my darling, my honey of her own mother,
my sappy vine, my honey-sweet,
my honey-mouthed of her mother.
"The gazing of your eyes is pleasant to me;
come my beloved sister.
The speaking of your mouth is pleasant to me,
my honey-mouthed of her mother.
The kissing of your lips is pleasant to me;
come my beloved sister.
"My sister, the beer of your barley is good,
my honey-mouthed of her mother.
The ale of your beer-bread is good;
come my beloved sister.
"My desirable one, my desirable one,
your charms are lovely,
my desirable apple garden,
your charms are lovely.
My fruitful garden of mes trees,
your charms are lovely,
my one who is in herself Dumuzid-abzu,
your charms are lovely.
My holy statuette, my holy statuette,
your charms are lovely.
My alabaster statuette adorned with a lapis-lazuli jewel,
your charms are lovely.
