Sumerian Words Poem by Kimberly Burnham

Shi - the breath of life
they breathed life into writing and poetry
thousands of years ago

Utukagaba - Water and the light
established at the gate of the waters
in the fertile crescent of modern day Iraq

Melammu - Bright
awe-inspiring luminosity creating
knowledge and wisdom

Adannu - Time meeting at the appointed time
sixty minutes in an hour
360 degrees in the world

Rabu - To compensate or make great
civilization but also wars
and in the end forgotten until recently

Inu - Eye
what beauty did you see
in the world around you

Akalu - Eat
did you eat that which brought
satisfaction and gratitude

Nahu - Calm down
what did you dream of at night
in peace and darkness

Sinnisnartu - Woman Singer
singing out loud
some of the earliest poetry