Song For Thantog

for Keith Wilson

          Thantog

                        you are jaguar priest

          spirit of fire, of the edge of light that occurs

          in the swift falling down of day

                                                            into night. Forever

          is yours but this night I watch out the dark with you,

          tend the fire with my fingers,

                                                         stir the cool wind

          and you pray:

                                           for the return of the sun

                                           for the spirit of the moon

                                           for life,

          and, it is all good, you say

          as you stand up on your hind legs, Thantog

                                                                                 and pray

          that those yellow eyes in motion in the night

          that those spirits behind the eyes who know us better

          than our mothers

                                        you pray

          that they come out from their hiding and devour us,

          because they are fire, Thantog

          they are own skin and blood

          and what better life is this

          than to so stand up singing

                                                       with no blade edge

          against ourselves

          other than voices

          out of the fire.