I had the traditional modesty of a girl-moon and was distressed at my full exposure in the heavens

My full charms were there for all to see

The darkness no longer protected me

So I sought concealment behind a cloud

I was bare in the vault of the heavens

But the cloud I chose concealed the limbs of the goat-god

I was ravaged and offered the price of an eclipse

Which I took gratefully as I was soiled

 

I lay under a white sheet on the night platform of a busy station

The sheet partially covered my nakedness

A crowd dressed in their winter furs had gathered around me

A young boy lifted the sheet to look at my breasts

He received a slap from his father and retired

Another Tolstoy heroine I suppose

Poor creature how very sad

Do not cast doubts on her

 

I wanted to shout at my spectators

I am alive my name is LUNA

But the words would not arrive

A doctor revealed my face and felt for my pulse

Did you say that this poor woman fell under that train?

I did sir

But her body has not been disturbed

Here look there is not a mark on her

The doctor pulled back the sheet and I closed my eyes

What is the history of this poor woman?

A priest stepped forward

Please cover her and I will reveal my witness

I was covered with the sheet again

This woman did not fall under the train

That is obvious

She was riding on the train and alighted when it stopped

Naked?

Yes she was as naked as you can see her

What did you do?

I covered her with a laundry sheet

And then?

She fainted

This woman is dead she is cold and I cannot find a pulse

I am telling you that she stepped from the train and was very much alive

Let that rest please remove her to your station masters office and I will call the authorities

 

As I was carried towards the office the moon broke free of the night clouds and lit up the railway station

Its clocks stopped and began to melt

Time was soft once more

The platform was now empty

I was no longer being carried

Opposite the platform bathed in strong sunlight was PAN the great goat-god

He was smoking a cigar and laughing at me

Many cannot see you but I am watching your every move

When the clock reaches nine night will be upon us

I will share the luxury of your body as I did before

The clocks have melted

Time has stopped

I looked at the railway station in its dereliction

Windows were broken

Posters peeled

The railway lines were rusty

They had not seen trains for many years

Unashamed of my nakedness I stood up

The goat-god smiled

See you have a shadow now

I looked at my shadow which was rigid against the decaying building

Your shadow reflects your beauty

Why do you hide yourself?

I am modest

Then surrender your modesty to your shadow

I looked at my shadow again deep in the bright sunlight

See how she covers her breasts

She is far more modest than you

As the goat-god finished his sentence the main chimney of the railway station fell with a thunderous crash onto the deserted railway tracks

In the dust thousands of coloured dragonflies flew in gay abandonment

We do not have long as you can see the bones of this once great station have become brittle its tissues have hardened

Everything is becoming rigid

If you remain here it will happen to you

If that is your desire I will take my leave

You cannot leave you are as trapped as I am

I can leave when desired

Then do so

The goat-god lit another cigar and rubbed its predecessor into the dusts of time

I tried to leave this station in my finest clothes but I returned naked and was presumed dead

We cannot leave

I looked at my shadow which appeared to be weeping

Go go now my faithful friend the heavens will be the poorer without me but you will be an able replacement

Do not care about your modesty as I did and when clouds pass do not accept their hospitality otherwise you will return here

You will rest during eclipses

Do attend to your toilette during these phases

And tell those who choose to listen the sad story of the girl-moon and her false modesty

My shadow departed and I looked at the goat-god as he fought tears

A dragonfly landed on his shoulder and it crumbled a little

Soon others joined their companion and slowly the great goat-god crumbled to dust

When night arrived shortly after nine I looked up into the heavens and saw my shadow moving brightly across the sky

She was naked as I was but there was no modesty in her journey