Mansions of the Moon



The threefold Lady, Maiden Moon, the Bride, the
					wise old Mother, moves
Across the living deeps of night, the bright
					    pavilions of the Gods.

XXVII.
Two Signs begin the passing year: we see the
				horse's head and mane,
But yet of him who guides, appear no tokens
				but the garment's train.

XXVIII.
The Moon is borne through caverned cloud; shall night
				prevail against her beams?
Shall this Saturnian gloom enshroud the brightness
				of immortal dreams?

I.
O Blade of Fire that cleaves the skies! O mystic
				flash that wakes to life.
The Moon in splendor shall arise supreme above
				the tempest's strife.

II.
The Red Deer seeks the Huntress now, the novice
				seeks Dictynna's net;
Her altar witnesses his vow, and never doth
				the Moon forget!

III.
Upon the Stag's proud brow there stands a shining
				Moon-spot silver white,
Showing the woods and meadow-lands the blazon
				of the Queen of Night.

IV.
Out from the Moon-mists luminous three drops
				distill, afar from Earth,
To fall into the deep, and thus a pearl is
				brought to gleaming birth.

V.
Her shrines are set in sea and land, her signature
				in fruit and flower
And in the tides we see her hand, and in the
				seasons find her power.

The threefold Lady, Maiden Moon, the Bride, the
				wise Old Mother, moves
Across the living deeps of night, the bright
				pavilions of the Gods.

VI.
But seek no rest beneath her will, for change
				and chance to her belong;
The cradle on the arrow's tip is swaying,
				and the night is long!

VII.
As with a lion's burning gaze through
				ever-living willow-boughs,
She bids the heavens with earth embrace, life's wheel
				with perfect form endows.

VIII.
The Moon upon a window bright graces the
				dwelling from afar:
Ah splendor, if the soul's own light upon the
				forehead sets a star!

IX.
Yet, mortal, if thy head should rest in sloth
				upon thy pillowed bed,
Her bow is turned against thy breast; up, haste,
				before the shaft be sped!

X.
But lust she bans not, with its train of changing
				pleasures fiery sweet
If thou wouldst forge thyself a chain, to bind thy
				head beneath her feet!

XI.
See where across the dappled skies quest wide
				the hounds of Hecate!
The wild goose from their coming flies, the lurking
				owl cries sobbingly.

XII
But he who gives her homage meet, yet is not
				bowed in servile fear,
Shall have a staff to guide his feet, and on
				his paths a lantern clear.

The threefold Lady, Maiden Moon, the Bride, the
				wise old Mother, moves
Across the living deeps of night, the bright
				pavilions of the Gods.

XIII
Let strength and skill thy shield afford, let thine own
				thought thy head bedeck:
Even a bead may turn a sword upraised to strike
				the wearer's neck!

XIV.
Nor at the sculptured gateway pause whose mocking
				forms eclipse the stars:
The base has only carven claws, the gate
				has only shadow-bars.

XV.
She wears the crescent as a crown, above the
				mountain-ridge to roam
And radiant she gazes down, leading the
				victor to his home.

XVI.
She measures week and month and year, an age
				is but a little part,
And like a jewel at her ear trembles awhile
				thy beating heart!

XVII.
The Lion's might is all unfeigned: even his
				tail-tip bears a tooth:
So say not when the Moon has waned, Her power is
				gone.'Tis there, in truth!

XVIII.
Swift, swift and dauntless shall she rise, from all
				the mesh of darkness free,
Bearing her sickle through the skies,
				unconquerable ivory!

XIX.
So calls she men to rise beyond the measure of
				their common state,
From abject Earth to loose their bond, their
				vision's worth to vindicate.

The threefold Lady, Maiden Moon, the Bride, the
				wise old Mother, moves
Across the living deeps ofnight, the bright
				pavilions of the Gods.

XX.
Behold the great sign magical which gave the
				Gods their victory
To overcome the demons all, the Nut whose shell
				has summits three!

XXI.
Again behold the peaceful land: the Moon doth
				bless each growing thing.
And Ocean knows her ruling hand, its cargoes
				safe in homecoming.

XXII.
And hail to those upon whose birth she smiles! Their
				fortune's early found:
But has their triumph lasting worth? The hollow
				drum gives joyful sound!

XIII.
But those who seek a hidden gem, who shun
				no perils on their way,
Those wise ones, the elect of Khem, her power
				shall aid them as it may.

XXIV.
Before their blessed feet she pours divine the
				bounty of her light;
The house from discord she assures, their rest she
				guards throughout the night.

XXV.
Before their blessed feet she flings her store
				of dreams most wonderful
That they across those gleaming things may
				pass to Truth invisible.

XXVI.
And when the darkness swallows them, as once
				the Seer of Nineveh,
Their brews receive her diadem, to be
				reborn to victory.