A Song to Four Goddesses

[child_of_the_air]

This is definitely not what I was supposed to be doing today, but I still haven't managed to make myself focus on doing the long-overdue homework for my independent study class on using R for geoanalysis. Instead, in between helping my chosen sister with a mental breakdown and having one of my own, I managed to write a poem. I've had Kipling's "A Song to Mithras" stuck in my head for a while, so I made my own Hellenic version of it.

"A Song to Four Goddesses"
by DW Rowlands, 23 March 2019
Catonsville, MD

Artemis, God of the Dawning, you who were there at our birth:
You led us to food and shelter, you led to the ends of the Earth!
Now as the day is breaking, now as we rise yet again,
Artemis, wild huntress, grant us the strength to sustain!

Athena, God of the Noon-tide, who guards us from morn until eve:
You taught us to live together, you taught us to build and to weave!
Now as the many gather, now as we work or fight,
Athena, wisest counselor, guide us to live aright!

Hestia, God of the Sunset, whose flame keeps us safe through the night:
You bring us warmth in the winter, you bring us warmth and light!
Now as the lamps are lighted, now as the cook-fires glow,
Hestia, eldest-and-youngest, bring us together to rest!

Hekate, God of the Midnight, who holds her bright torches high:
You stand guard at the cross-roads, you watch 'neath the starry sky!
Now as cold shadows gather, now as we wake in a fright,
Hekate, teacher and guardian, keep us safe 'til the light!