Dante's Heart
Artemis
Christine Emmert
Her walk was swayed amidst the animals of the forest who pressed against
her for their protection. A myriad of breasts dripped milk. She was feral,
awake when the city-people slept. She was the goddess of the cave and
running river. Not that groomed virgin that her brother pursued in his sun
burst chariot. Once, her father ordered her from Olympus for criticism of
his earthly cities. She cried at first in the valley where he flung her, then
stood up proudly, unbraiding her dark hair, and tearing off the gown she
wore so unwillingly.
"Artemis," the unprotected called out. "Shelter us, protect us."
The snake wrapped around her waist, and the bees placed honey on her
tongue, that all creatures who met her were fed by both her words and the
lovely running liquid. Apollo came to her after his seductions when she sat
in the throne of the moon, and he told her none of the virgins satisfied him
half as much as this moment by her side.
Later the Romans re-shaped her into a huntress who would slay the same
animals she had embraced. Later she would lose her wild quality and
become tame in the artist's hand.
But now she walked proud and happily over the carpet of the wilderness,
listening to the honesty of a new world.
Christine Emmert
Her walk was swayed amidst the animals of the forest who pressed against
her for their protection. A myriad of breasts dripped milk. She was feral,
awake when the city-people slept. She was the goddess of the cave and
running river. Not that groomed virgin that her brother pursued in his sun
burst chariot. Once, her father ordered her from Olympus for criticism of
his earthly cities. She cried at first in the valley where he flung her, then
stood up proudly, unbraiding her dark hair, and tearing off the gown she
wore so unwillingly.
"Artemis," the unprotected called out. "Shelter us, protect us."
The snake wrapped around her waist, and the bees placed honey on her
tongue, that all creatures who met her were fed by both her words and the
lovely running liquid. Apollo came to her after his seductions when she sat
in the throne of the moon, and he told her none of the virgins satisfied him
half as much as this moment by her side.
Later the Romans re-shaped her into a huntress who would slay the same
animals she had embraced. Later she would lose her wild quality and
become tame in the artist's hand.
But now she walked proud and happily over the carpet of the wilderness,
listening to the honesty of a new world.
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