ARTEMIS

Lady Moon, grant me night vision.
Let me walk in your half-light
at ease with my unknowing.

Once I thought, if only, if only I had money, 
if only I was admired, if only I was loved:

I would be content.

And failing this, I imagined
if I asked for nothing,
making gilt shrines to my gathered sufferings
I would be content.

Lady, Lady Moon, grant me this favor:

to know that contentment
is not always the highest good.

Tide pull me, stretch me, disturb me,
give me sweet and sour dreams,
in your mutable light, change me, change me

Keep me lean, skin sensing,
my heart far scanning the borderlands -
burn me clean and empty, Lady Moon.

Let me love best
your endarkened wildernesses
this waxing and waning
this ebbing silver knowing

this moving point of balance.

Lauren Raine 1999

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