He was a boy when it took place
without body hair or stubbled face,
all tucked in bed, he'd said his grace
an watched the sky through curtains of lace
when the moon whispered his name.
The voice had struck him in the core-
without word or doubt, he crossed the floor
and silently crept out the door
to answer to the call
Under the dark cloak of the night
led by the Full Moon shining bright
he went into the woods-- led by silvery light--
where raccoons crept and owls took flight
far from house and road.
And on the edge of a clearing round
a circle was marked upon the ground
in stones-- in which a woman was found
beckoning to him.
She was withered, wrinkled, old;
her silver hair around her flowed
without a stitch of clothes or robe
naked-- yet unabashedly bold--
a key hung round her neck.
Her sagging skin was pale and white,
her ice-blue eyes held a light
that danced with vibrancy in the night
and emanated power.
Instinctively, like deja-vous,
he knew exactly what to do.
His clothes dropped to the grassy dew
he stepped into the circle too
and joined her on that night.
A gentle smile etched on her face
she took him into her embrace.
The kneeled down in the sacred place
and became lost in time and space,
his cheek upon her breast.
Kneeling 'neath the Moon the stay,
which shone brighter than the eye of day.
The Earth it seemed did fade away
he clung fast to her.
His heart filled with mystic wonder.
A ghostly female voice-- powerful-- like thunder
chanted his name over and over.
The lady whispered, "Tis Our Mother..."
I am All it said.
They soon were in a jungle, it seemed,
with wild sounds among the green
like something out of a crazy dream,
she told him, "Thou art God."
Coming toward him was a Man--
beautiful, primal, with hooves and hand--
naked, erect, there he did stand
--Master of the wild land--
with an antlered crown.
To the boy he gave a key
unlike any the boy e'er did see;
"I'm part of you, you're part of Me,"
He said before He fled.
His musky scent still trailed behind
and all the stars did blaze and shine,
visions of the universe did unwind,
enmeshing, melting, fleeting, sublime
--they floated, he and she.
Their hearts, in sync, like pounding tides,
pulsed with the rhythm of life inside
and he let out ecstatic cries
like a Shaman visioning.
He felt the Earth beneath his knee
he heard the rustling of a tree
he opened his eyes and did see
the woods, the circle, the old lady,
as they were before.
With scented oils she rubbed him down
as he lay upon the ground
in tune with every forest sound
--he felt so aware of all.
There until the dawning hours
she showed him roots and herbs and flowers
in copper bowls-- spoke of their powers--
until the misty morning showers
she instructed him.
She told him of the spirit and sidhe,
spoke of the powers of stone and tree;
she kissed his forehead saying, "blessed be,"
and sent him on his way.
The rooster crowed, the dawn did break.
The young man began to awake;
he smelled the browning griddle cake
waft from the kitchen where it baked
-- he thought all t'was a dream.
He suddenly let out a gasp
-- for in his fist he saw he clasped
a key-- which unlocked his future path
-- he knew it all was real.
The years did pass, his youth did wane,
till he was walking with a cane.
His skin did sag, his color drain,
and as he aged much wisdom came--
he held fast to his path.
He learned from plant and stone and tree,
learned to steep the healing tea,
communed with spirit, communed with sidhe,
to fortell what was to be
he helped the villagers.
He held back floods, he eased the drought,
he blessed the innocent, he cursed the lout,
blessed the harvest, cured the gout
just as he had learned.
He whispered prayers by lighted Moon
and to its cycles was in tune.
He was awakened in his room,
"The time has come to pass the boon,"
a voice did say to him.
Like so many years ago
down that path again he did go
to the circle of stones below
the bright Full Moon, and he did know
what he was to do.
He unpacked root and herb and flower,
he called upon the Ancient Power,
and patiently waited till the hour
naked in the circle.
And from the parted trees there stood
a fair young girl coming from the woods.
Wordlessly, she dropped her hood
and cloak-- naked-- at the edge she stood
and he beckoned her into the circle.
