*

 “The Eternal City of Uruk…

See how its ramparts gleam like copper in the sun…

Climb the ancient staircases up stone more ancient than mind…

Approach the Temple of Eanna…

Sacred precinct of the Goddess Ishtar…

Her priestesses stand laughing and chatting flushed with joy…

Ready to serve mens’ pleasure for her honour…

Walk the Great Wall of Uruk…

The men-folk dressed in their splendour…

In fine linen and embroidered wool…

Their fringed shawls and wide belts brilliantly coloured…

Follow its leg-wearying course around the city…

Inspect the mighty foundations…

Examine the masonry…

How masterful is its construction…

Wallow in the land it encloses…

Its palm trees and gardens…

Its orchards and lakes…

The glorious palaces and temples…

The shops and market places…

The homesteads and public squares…

Every day is a festival in Uruk where people sing and dance in the streets…

The musicians of Uruk play incessantly…