Listen to the world’s best poetry read out loud.

I was known by many names and now by none.

I was Na’amah, the pleasant one
mother to all creation. The hourglass
gathered pace in my shadow.

I was Emzara, Betenos, Barthenon
wheat and millet swayed to my song.
Around my feet grew common reed
papyrus sedge and bullrushes.

I was Haykel in Arabic.
Through my mouth sun rose flowers, blue pimpernel
and yachnuk spoke a language of their own.
Cumin and chamomile formed my veil.

In Georgian I was T’ajar, a temple.
Bitter herbs formed my seat.
Out of my left arm grew olive trees,
cypress and cedar of Lebanon. Red bush,
date palms and myrrh out of my right.

I was Nemzar in Armenian.
I knew every lacewing of every petal
every wrinkled bark, each sharp thorn.
I twirled every leaf in dewdrops
and hid a covenant into each rotund kernel.

I was Emzara, Noyemza, Norca to the Gnostics.
The Babylonians called me Tytea.
I was the sunrise of creation
the moon glow of eternity.
In the Book of Jasher I was Na’amah
the pleasant one.
Now I am known only as the wife of Noah.