(spoken to Pazuzu's envoy, at the handing-over)

Come closer, envoy. Here. Into the light.
You'll want to see the whole of her. Yes. That's right.
Begin with the hair. No torch in your lord's hall
burns half so red. I've watched it, after all,
a long age in my service, catch the sun
and keep it, like a prize already won.

Tell Pazuzu that. Tell him the fire comes free.
I ask no more for it. A courtesy.
The eyes. Look, they are clear. Not a mark in them,
not one hard thought. Note that. A flawless gem
is worth the more for having known no cut.

She looks at you as if no door were shut.
The mouth. She laughs. You'll like the laugh: it's kind,
and quick, and it forgives. Yes, bear in mind
that it forgives. A useful thing, in gifts.

A student of mine has loved it. Well. Love shifts.
The hands. A warrior's. She has held a spear
in all my wars, and never shook. Come here,
and feel how still they are. Your lord will find
a use for stillness. Something of the kind.

She's begging something. Let her. It won't do.
Her name? I forget. No matter. She'll have new.

Take her. Take her now.
The alliance, then. It's sealed. You needn't bow.
Go on. Go on. There's nothing more to show.
There is no more of her I need to know.

After "The Tale of Enheduanna" (Events 278) and
"The Age of Black Woe: Part XIV" (Events 770)

Penned by my hand on the 3rd of Ero, in the year 1019 AF.