The Moon and Zapatista

In the moon’s light is a nudity

That wants to be looked upon.

And in the brightness reflected upon your adoring eyes

You see a world un-darkened

And un-envious.

As to an oracle, you cry out to her

And she prophecies through the falling leaves:

“You are now the shadow of an earth

That in dreams alone can still be seen

Through a tired gaze, as dancing shapes in the dust.

You, a shadow, will see but not become the light.

You will walk and fight with no air in your lungs,

With those whose voices are unheard except as faded echoes.

You will find no shelter, no repose, no grace.

You may find one to love, and your heart

Will talk through your mouth

Each time you say “I love you”.

But you, a shadow, will never find the lips

That will say “you”, “It is you.”

You will search and you will fight

As the din of your quiescent hopes

Until the night and your shadow are one,

Until you are no more even a shadow.

You, among the dead of always,

Will die once again,

This time that you might know

What it means to live.”

***

"We are Mexican, mostly indigenous, and we took up arms on January 1 of 1994 demanding a voice, face and name for the forgotten of the earth.”

“We want a world where many worlds are possible.”

--Subcomandante Marcos