We gather the kindling

                 our kin

 the tree-branch-leaf-litter

for flame famish,

sit beneath

the smoke the stars

                                    –   unclothe the constellations

                                                  of their newer names   –

and listen for

the    s   p   a   c   e    between

 

Many hands many

                              hearts working

            gather to carry this bowl

of tree of river red gum

or something else

                                        small and soft and

                                             also sacred,

all carved branch birthmarked

with two snakes

            watching their young hatch

            watching their world be reborn

 

                                    Follow the curve of vertebrae

                        and scald and meeting place,

                                    hold it to the rhythm

                                                of your chest

                                                            and let it mimic that of

                                                the land beneath your feet,

                                    carry it with care with sovereignty

            to the stone to the river

            gather the water

                        that carries you

 

  Soak the leaves green

       don’t leave here

                                    without offering more than you take

                                    without treading lightly       lovingly

 

So gather

not it not oil not earth,

it is not yours not ours,

work with not against and

work to make new smoke

make song make sacred

 

Light the fire

bathe and birth            be birthed in the blue of both

            so we can gather listen watch feel

for the stories shared

                                    for Dreamings dreamt

and wisdom woven, kept alight kept alive

 

Gather

                        we gather

                                                 g a t h e r e d.