Hoofs of Pegasus

<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>THE ASCENT OF ISHTAR</h2> <div class="poetry-container"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0"><span class="bigfont">A</span>T the first gate they gave the veil to Ishtar:</span> <span class="i0">On earth a pear tree trembles into bloom,</span> <span class="i0">The poplar weaves a web of changeful green and silver,</span> <span class="i0">Lord Tammuz comes back from his dusty tomb.</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">At the second gate they sped her on the journey,</span> <span class="i0">They gave her bracelets for her hands and slender feet:</span> <span class="i0">Through the reeds the wind goes piping, piping,</span> <span class="i0">The flutes of Tammuz are piping shrill and sweet.</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And the jewelled circlet they bound about her waist.</span> <span class="i0">Can a ruby make the Daughter of the Moon more fair?</span> <span class="i0">Like bright spears in battle are the young men,</span> <span class="i0">And the maidens braid the pomegranate blossoms in their hair.</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">About the breasts of Ishtar they bound the sumptuous ornaments.</span> <span class="i0">The necklace they surrendered, and caused her to depart.</span> <span class="i0">And the cedar knows the Lady’s strength and her dominions,</span> <span class="i0">For the Dweller in the Morning Star makes strong the cedar’s heart. </span><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</SPAN></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">At the sixth gate they brought to Lady Ishtar</span> <span class="i0">The ear-rings, lovely as the silver-threaded rain;</span> <span class="i0">On the housetops there is the pleasant sound of showers,</span> <span class="i0">And on the slopes the green swords of grain.</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">At the seventh gate they crowned the Queen of Heaven,</span> <span class="i0">She has brought back Tammuz from the house of death.</span> <span class="i0">The winter is past, the rain is gone and over,</span> <span class="i0">And sweet is the vineyard in the south wind’s breath.</span></div> </div></div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />