POWERFUL ORATION AGAINST WAR IS NOTHING NEW...OUR WORK CONTINUES

ENHEDUANNA

LAMENT TO THE SPIRIT OF WAR 

Enheduanna (circa 2300 B.C.E.), a Sumerian poet/priestess, is the first known poet, man or woman, of prehistory. She can also be thought of as one of the earliest known war protesters in history: her works, preserved on artifact from an ancient civilization, lament the same horrors of war known to modern women.

You hack everything down in battle…

God of War, with your fierce wings

you slice away the land and change

disguised as a raging storm,

growl as a roaming hurricane,

yell like a tempest yells,

thunder, rage, roar, and drum,

expel evil winds!

Your feet are filled with anxiety!

On your lyre of moans

I hear your loud scream.

Like a fiery monster you fill the land with poison

As thunder you growl over the earth,

trees and bushes collapse before you.

You are blood rushing down a mountain,

Spirit of hate, greed and anger,

dominator of heaven and earth!

Your fire wafts over our land,

riding on a beast,

with indomitable commands,

decide all fate.

You triumph over all our rites.

Who can explain why you go on so?

(Translation adapted by Daniela Giosesi)

Poem delivered by Timothy Bagwell at Armistice Day event. November 11, 2019, Evansville, IN.