Get Your Premium Membership

Gilgamesh

Poet's Notes
(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Indiana Shaw.


"It's a long one" . . . :  /

Story has it you used your power to run amuck Putting fear into the people, and brides in Uruk So the people of Unuk pray to the sky God Anu To sort out Gilgamesh, without any further ado Send us something, to sort out that raging mutt Who just wants our brides and likes to kick butt Enters; poor, Enkidu, who was, a man of nature Created; by the Goddess Aruru, for their favour A man of innocence, who ate grass with gazelles That in itself should have been ringing your bells News of Enikdu; reached Gilgamesh who swore What Enikdu needed, is no better than a whore To calm his beastly nature & make Enikdu a man Such a shame really, it’s here his downfall began Because once Enikdu laid his soul to this woman His pet gazelles were no longer to him a coming Enikdu really had no choice but to leave for Uruk Where after, the rest of his life, became unstuck News; was out Gilgamesh wanted the next bride But: what Gilgamesh needed was some bromide Qualm his bad urge for other men’s, to be wives Enikdu, on hearing this his temper began to rise He sets off to challenge Gilgamesh bring to book A man; whose women’s virginity, so, rudely took Enikdu met Gilgamesh; at the bride's, to be door Fights with Gilgamesh ‘til he could fight no more Gilgamesh; tosses him, liken to a young bull calf With this Enikdu became, Gilgamesh’s other half Gilgamesh had many visions on his own destiny To overthrow, the King of the cedar trees legacy To place his name; in the hall of fame, then gain To knock Humbaba off his throne, he was a pain Humbaba was going to be no easy task for sure A huge brute of a man whom as knew the score But Gilgamesh, and sidekick Enikdu, were ready Taking Gilgamesh sisters so as to act as bevvies Then just for good measure prayed to Shamash Who owned; the lands, of the cedar trees catch Weapons weighted; they’re hilted, up to galore Entering into the cedar forest, via its back door With strength and wisdom, Humbaba was felled But to tell his sad tale, Humbaba was compelled Gilgamesh; could not help, but, feel compassion Poor Humbaba; who had taken such a thrashing For reasons unknown, Enkidu decided to kill him Gilgamesh follows without a thought of bad Jinn Pity as Humbaba was a nice guy underneath it all More than happy to serve Gilgamesh, as protocol As the cedars trees shook on hearing of his death Enlil, God of the mountains was more than bereft Curses both Gilgamesh and Enikdu as to their err Though Gilgamesh, and Enikdu not fully as aware Gilgamesh; returns home, now so more the hero Ishtar; weird woman, sees him as Robert de Niro Requests his hand in marriage, but: alas no avail Gilgamesh refuses her; then, went out on the ale Tut; there is nowt worse; than a woman scorned As poor Gilgamesh should have been forewarned Ishtar as flies up to heaven to give it some groans Never such an insulting lad, to her Dad she moans Give me the Bull of heaven; to teach him a lesson Against that Gilgamesh it will be my best weapon Ishtar wish was granted, so off with the bull went And into the city Uruk the daft bull was then sent That bull in Uruk, it not half, wreaked some havoc When it erred as on the side, of being a bit savage Riles Enikdu into action; who as quickly has a plan Grabs the bull by the tail, as he had a strong hand Gilgamesh as by its horns then stabs it in the nape The bull dies on account it had no means of escape Gilgamesh; hands its heart on a plate to Shamash Tired from their endeavours both decided to crash Enikdu awakens from a very bad dream not happy Everyone wants him dead, and as in pretty snappy Enikdu laments then curses the harlot as to no end As to, Enikdu; no real happiness, did she ever send But: then his curses he did revoke, as feared death Yet twelve days on, Enikdu breathed his last breath Gilgamesh lamented as only ones brother could do Grief-stricken, and for in his heart a cold wind blew Enters on a journey; to find Utnapishtim, the father To everlasting life he now as wants to seek a lawyer The lawyer was a man-scorpion, riled fear in others Come Gilgamesh; for you are of such a God brother With 12 miles of darkness travel to get ones answer And, rid yourself from this Enikdu’s lamented cancer Gilgamesh in his grief says he was up to the mission When the man-scorpion lawyer, as gives permission To enter the gates of Mashu; a range of mountains In the land of the Gods, who live in their thousands Shamash; greeting Gilgamesh in somewhat, dismay For Gilgamesh; prayers to live forever is one of Nay’ Says: seek Siduri, &, Utnapishtim son of Ubara Tutu Urshanabi, the ferryman, you must stick to like glue Gilgamesh; meets Utnapishtim now wants the truth Whom was nothing less of a Noah, back in his youth Sets Gilgamesh a test no sleep for 6 days or 7 nights But Gilgamesh; falls asleep on the first-night, alright Utnapishtim, sends him home, with a flea, in his ear But; not before departing, with some advice so dear As to find a plant in deep waters which restores life With that information, Gilgamesh, was like, O’ right Finding a plant was one thing, but; losing it another Gilgamesh; as fell foul, to a wily serpent, O’ brother His quest up; traveling on with Urshanabi over-land Arrives, at the city Uruk feeling less than a man can Gilgamesh continued to live on ‘til his life was spent Where his godly like soul, was on up to heaven sent Then his whole life story is engraved onto clay rocks A story about his life and death, and how it all sucks O’ yeah poor old Gilgamesh died never to rise again But: ‘cause of his epic poem, forever he found fame This Sumerian epic dated back from the early 21st BC So it’s only fair that Gilgamesh claimed fame you see As to have given us such an epic poem, we can read Historians amongst us assure which we can all agree As from Gilgamesh he had so much in which to lend Then at last, my own flamin' epic of a poem can end

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 2/3/2020 10:53:00 AM
Indiana, Quite an Epic you have unraveled. I always found the story intriguing. Well done prose. -Richard
Login to Reply
Shaw Avatar
Indiana Shaw
Date: 2/3/2020 12:03:00 PM
Cheers, Quothy, one good epic deserves another . . . ; )

Book: Reflection on the Important Things