Initiation

leave those shoes at the door

and tear the soles of your feet.

step, now, into this white hot agreement to undo

the things that make you.

if you are a dancer,

go still and stand in the break of your bones.

if you know to sing,

go silent and weep for the words that will fail you.

if you once could fly,

go underground and root your body to the stones.

everything must alter.

the swing of sword is coming down

now.

mutter your bargains,

but relinquish your expectant prayers.

She loves you this much.

As the clatter of skulls shake against her hip bone,

the smoke will sear your vision

and the efforts of your cries will drown in the

symphony of destruction.

the blood of the battlefield will rise like labored steam

from the undoing

of what holds you back.

carry it in your hands like flowers,

give every last thing you know

to the dream of fire.