“Fire Dancing”"

The dancers rise to smear the sky
With light and color of fire bright.
A pit is dug at the scene of the ritual,
And a fire is kindled within its sphere.
The tiny flame thirsts for the fuel that it needs
From the pieces of driftwood and splinters of boards.
Slowly the flame fingers reach out and upward,
As they consume the fuel so tenderly added
By the five dancers whose faces are hidden.
A handful of dust and the fire leaps
With a thirst unmatched by the ravenous wolf;
A flare of light fills the midnight sky,
Then dies away as silence fills the air.
A dancer tiptoes toward the tongues
As eight dust-filled fists fan the flames to engulf
His legs—his chest—his arms—his head.
The fire lingers on him for a moment;
Then all is dark once more and quiet.
The one in the mask stands behind the others,
And chants the song of triumph and glory.

2006