Delah sat sheltered from the rain, droplets rolling down leaves and away. The great willow was melancholy, she felt sadness.
“O Dumuzid, my lord, Her husband of green; Her husband of green who brings the new. O Dumuzid, my lord, Her lad of bark; Her lad of bark and arms of supple bough. O Dumuzid, my lord, Her love and lust; Her love and lust who awakens the maiden.”
The tranquility of the lake enhanced by the white noise of the rain. The maid sat fair on the banks ‘neath the willow. The waters reflecting the white of the sky above. Down a blade of grass, water did flow. Slow and deliberate, before plummeting; a tear of the heavens. Birds took shelter ‘neath the willow’s luxurious mane of leaf. Quietly they stood, twitching and watching the skies for the end of the rains.
“O Dumuzid, my birds and bees; my animals and creature of the lands. O Dumuzid, my willow and ash; my trees and forests of the land. O Dumuzid, my sweet rudbeckia and bush of holly; my flowers and bushes of the land.”
‘Neath the willow sat Delah; eyes unseeing, gazing far beyond the lake. To the land of the gods, where they lived in a city with tall buildings and many folk. Where colours and people of all kinds are found. Where the gods bless them with their presence; with their wisdom and words, acts and dramas.
“O Dumuzid, come unto Delah; come unto Delah ‘neath your creation. O Dumuzid, under the willow; the wise willow is awaiting your Delah. O Dumuzid, the birds sing and rain serenades; nature calls to the father Dumuzid to come to Delah.”
In the city, in the abode of Dumuzid and Inanna; in the city of the young gods. Those who had fought their creators the waters of salt and sweet freshness lived as no other in the city. They lived above, they lived below. Watched over by the Father of wisdom and his son, whose gaze could calm the greatest enemy. Dumuzid lounging at the side of Inanna overheard the plea.
“O Inanna, my Queen and love; nature is a-calling your lad. A-calling your lad to love of another. A willow cries and beneath sits a fair maid awaiting her lord; a fair maid awaiting Your husband Dumuzid.”
In the city of the young gods, Inanna did a-stir from Her relaxation. Stretching Her slender arms, a modest bangle of gold her only adornment; She laughed.
“O Dumuzid, a fair maiden my lad tells me; a fair maid beneath a tree of magnificence is awaiting Inanna’s husband. Inanna sails the rivers; sails the rivers with Her father Anu. They visit with the people and sailors; the sailors of glorious colour and of great appetite for Inanna’s beauty. Inanna offers to them to oil their masts; oil their masts before setting sail to places a-new.”
She throws Her head back and laughs puckishly. Hair trailing through the scented air. Gracefully, moving around Her husband, hands on his shoulders and chest. She whispers into the ear of Dumuzid, Her breath of cardamom and orange sweet in his ear.
“O Dumuzid, my sweet man, sweet lord; you must fertilise for you are Nature. O Nature, O man of the green; My man of the green and Inanna grants you leave.”
Bowing to his Goddess Dumuzid is left of her Her presence and the city of the young gods. To travel among the mortal beings; to bring them creation and growth. To spread new life and leaf wherever his foot did step. To awaken the sleeping and lust a-new wherever his hand did lay.
He came upon Delah ‘neath the tree as a young shepherd in need of shelter. Of song and beauty he did sing to her as the rain fell.
The Angry Farmer 