Reborn Tigreanlittle pale one, full of fire
brother darling, bathed in earth
one stone-quiet, one a crier
twins inseparable from birth
just as dirt tamps out a flame
so the one would quiet the other
and just as fire a forest claims
so the boy embraced his brother
on the mountain slopes they grew
collecting secrets, rocks, and falls
(innocent of how time flew
only children, after all)
what a pleasure power brings!
for earth, the world was his to mold
scattering seeds from which did spring
lush gardens wondrous to behold
and fire brought the sun's warmth down
to touch each seedling light and swift
till a blossom each plant crowned
(knowing life is fire's gift)
they might have gone on, spark and plow,
sharing dreams without a hitch
but things must always change - for now
into our story comes a witch
not stooped nor aged, but young and fair
in spidersilk and twigs and loam
barefoot and with ink-black hair
she walked into their mountain home
this paste of moths puts wildfires out
--and luck, from this stone, wrapped in ferns
she spread her magic wares about
and - slowly - flames began to burn
for brothers once a perfect whole
found their hearts had now collided
earth and fire, wood and coal
by a woman were divided
earth wooed the witch with flowers bright
bluebells, cowslips, poppies sweet
rare mountain herbs, to her delight
and his own orchard's fruits to eat
fire kept her cauldron warm
made the sun peek through the rain
chased away the chill of storms
and promised her eternal flame
thus they resented one another
brothers yearning, blaze and stone
once sharing longings with the other
now each turned to seek his own
till one morn in the garden, walking,
fire, through the hazy mists
heard the witch-girl and earth talking
and watched them share a timid kiss
heartbreak turns to jealous hate
just as flame consumes a wood
and after sunset, dark and late
fire settled the score for good
they fought beneath the silent trees
loud and strident in the dark
each by their brother's heart diseased
until their anger struck a spark
o, earth and fire, precious brothers
how you've forgotten brotherhood!
for like the kiss of ardent lovers
fire licked across the woods
against the night the fires blazed
and when the sun came creeping back
the brothers' gardens all were razed
trees turned to smoke, the green burnt black
no paste of moths, no fern-wrapped stone
could save the mountainside from flame
the gift of life did fire disown
and sent the trees back whence they came
little pale one, scarred with burns
brother darling, turned to earth
two halves now turned to one who learned
too late what brother's love was worth
