There was Mildred, goddess

of the moors, mizzle, and mist,

the blooming gorse bush and 

the thistle, mistress of the manor,

long lost daughter of Daphne 

 

sister of Margot, who was goddess 

of the hedgerow, protector

of brambles and field mice,

nettles, pebbles, and footpaths,

who was once the lover of

 

Beatrice, goddess of the streams,

allotments, and small animals—

rabbits, badgers, rats & moles—

who carried a scythe and gave 

birth under the deep blue moon 

 

to Martha, goddess of the bracken,

heathers, lichens, and mosses, 

guardian of the ridge tops, striding

from dusk to daybreak, wind whipping 

fervently to the coastline where 

 

Lerryn kept watch over the waves, 

goddess of rock pools and tide pools,

seaweeds, fossils, and limestone,

who once threatened a gale to ruin

the most experienced of sailors.