He strode across shires and rivers spread wide
He drove by the day and he drove by the night
He rode towards roads that but fortune abide
He sought without seeking, the Splendour his light
But by moment and moment, the darkness grew nigh
Emptiness empty, darkness on darkness, and sorrowful sky
Atarḥáyyu, the Hero, in darkness he lay
"Atarḥáyyu! Draw near! Atarḥáyyu! Come here!"
A voice in dreams deep, a voice did declare!
But his eyes did not see, and his hands did not bear.
He went to the boundaries, of all, and beyond
He moved silent in silence, from beginning to end
He regarded the grace, in all, and grew fond
He gazed upon death, to all to correspond
But by moment and moment, hope faded his bond
Emptiness empty, darkness on darkness, and sorrowful sky
Atarḥáyyu, the Hero, in darkness he lay
"Atarḥáyyu! Come here! Atarḥáyyu! Have no fear!"
A voice in dreams sunken, a voice did he hear!
And he seized then his bow, an arrow, and spear.
He traversed the most joyful, Singing Forest Alālu
He heard what the ear, nor the heart, may bear near
He knew not the name, of fear nor of rue
He stood by the Splendour, Baʕal Šadē, and Sīn too
But by moment and moment, unfolding like dew
Emptiness empty, darkness on darkness, and sorrowful sky
Atarḥáyyu, the Hero, in darkness he lay
"Atarḥáyyu! Do listen! Atarḥáyyu! Pay heed!"
A voice in dreams wavering, a voice and in need!
But his ears did not hear, as he laid on his feet.
He reckoned the spiralling, Towers Arbāiu
He laid eyes on the light, of stars upon stars
He saw beauty, in light mirrored, anew and anew
He stood by the Splendour, Baʕal Šadē, and Sīn too
But by moment and moment, as time by time grew
Emptiness empty, darkness on darkness, and sorrowful sky
Atarḥáyyu, the Hero, in darkness he lay
"Atarḥáyyu! In darkness! Atarḥáyyu! Draw near!"
A beast at last stood, a buffalo purple, whose voice he did hear!
"Had you slain me and thus, a hunter you would have been,
but for you refrained, thus now I may declaim,
for all in Mātnaḫármuṭ, in its endlessless lain,
there is one that is older, and older than all,
there is one that is further, and further than all,
there is one that is wiser, Far-Away, and Remote,
Ūtnápištim his name, to whom Atarḥáyyu once came."
He passed into pages, of history and fame
He set out to find, the Remote, Far-Away
He was sewn into lay, and tales by his name
When he found what to come, was to him all the same,
for his tale could not end, for in darkness he lay,
When winding words wrote, when darkness drew near,
Atarḥáyyu, the Hero, to Ūtnápištim came
