i am the daughter of Zeus
golden, wreathed in laurels
- and -
i am the goddess of the moon
silver, with a starry crown

i am Artemis –
Diana –
Phoebe –
Potnia Theron – Mistress of Animals

i am willful and powerful and i wield my weapons carefully
my blade is swift and my bow is even swifter yet
and i am given all i ask for

i ask my father for the moon and the mountains
and i remain a girl forever
impetuous and selfish and demanding
unmarried

i refuse to allow my body to belong to anyone but me,
and i love my legs not for their shape but for their speed
i love my chest not for my pale breast but for the strong lungs and heart within
i love my hands for their dexterity,
the pads of my fingers coarse and
my shoulders sinewy from pulling back my bow
my eyes are not beautiful
they are quick,
and they make my aim true

alone i race through forests deep and dark
my heart pounding
my footing is always sure
and i know how to run without making a sound
and i know how to track a stag through the forest
for miles and miles and miles
tireless

there are a thousand paintings and sculptures entitled,
Diana
Diana

but none of them move,
and i am never still,
so none of these are me

i asked for what i wanted

and i crowned myself

Percy Delatte (they/them) is the aesthetic coordinator for Periwinkle Literary Magazine and a grad student. They are a writer and an illustrator, and they also make jewelry, embroider, and speak Italian. They are currently working on a debut YA sci-fi/fantasy series, and their poetry has been published by F(r)iction and The Mark Literary Review.

Twitter: @percy_kirkland