I, Demeter, Goddess of the Land
Command that everything grow—
The crops, the trees, the flowers.
I command all life to develop,
The plants, the animals, the people,
Everything to develop and bloom,
Except for my daughter, Kore.
My radiant seed, her I will keep by my side,
My child forever.
My work is a hard one;
Only a few mortals give thanks.
The other gods are too good
To stoop to lowly Earth
Except to chase unfortunate mortals
Or delight in the dance of war.
The soft earth is too slow for them,
The body of our Mother only a backdrop
For their airy schemes.
But my daughter and I will remember
And together the flow of life tend.
