James Casper
She Who is Inexorable
In your kingdom abyss, you wait for me
Whispering names of those soon to join,
A world below that hears no plea
The other side of Inanna’s coin;
To hold rare flowers in your tomb,
Celebrate birth from your stillborn womb.
I feel you in each shadow cast
Cold as the ice in your veins,
Harlots alike, as well as the chaste
Subject to your final embrace;
For whom do we wait so long?
No pity for the right or the wrong.
There is no tribute to your presence
Or shrines that bear your name,
Whether faith or good works reach heaven
First they must pass through your grave;
A testament to their fears,
It is you who are their tears.
Pale light of moon as it wanes
Aloof to the suffering of pride,
Rulers cling to their thrones in vain
Subjugated by death’s only bride;
Ereshkigal, it is you,
The only undying truth.
