Flashes of firelight dance on the canvas walls

An old woman hunches over a vat

Shifting shadows reveal our preoccupations

As corn is slowly ground

 

An old woman hunches over a vat

She and the contents are one

As corn is slowly ground

thrown into the fire, sending sparks

 

She and the contents are one

she has lived and died for this moment

thrown into the fire, sending sparks

as her life has lit up this world

 

She has lived and died for this moment

not a second too long or too short

as her life has lit up this world

she has begun to step into another

 

Not a second too long or too short

she laughs and sways, sending kisses

she has begun to step into another

her calloused feet spanning the gulf

 

She laughs and sways, sending kisses

she’s tethered to both worlds at once

her calloused feet spanning the gulf

she begins to untie the knot

 

she’s tethered to both worlds at once

she knows that this moment is fleeting

she begins to untie the knot

and smiles broadly as she steps through the gate