Friday, December 4, 2015

Found this in an old notebook.

Taurus
Ray Zimmerman

Taurus, bull of heaven,
Zodiac constellation,
lies on the ecliptic.
Ishtar released the bull.

It was vengeance against Gilgamesh
who refused her affections.
The bull scorched the earth.
Gilgamesh said “Let us go
and kill this bull of heaven.”

Enkidu, his friend, demurred.
“Let us not kill this bull of heaven,”
yet they destroyed the bull.
The land regained its strength.

Ishtar asked her father for revenge.
They have killed the bull of heaven!
Gilgamesh, half divine, was spared.
Mortal Enkidu died, lay in state for seven days.