First Draft

          The moon still influences the tides and the tides lap on every shore, right around the globe. The moon still belongs to lovers, and lovers are everywhere---not just in America.

Final (Sixth) Draft

          Like every great river and every great sea, the moon belongs to none and belongs to all. It still holds the key to madness, still controls the tides that lap on shores everywhere, still guards the lovers that kiss in every land under no banner but the sky.