Gathering of Fire

As the sun sets in the west,
Gods arrow splits the black
sky to the east.
The glow worm comes.
A red haze defines the horizon.
Trees crack and snap.
Monkey, tiger, and bear scream.
The Glow Worm roars.
The chieftain cowers
in his golden hoard.
The Priest demands alms
to appease.
The warrior kisses
wife and child goodbye.

The warrior runs
into the dark
that separates man
from the past.
His enemy the jaguar runs.
They meet in the dark
of the jungle.
Jaguar calls out a truce
and bounds away.

As warrior approaches
the glow worm, the air burns.
His skin, nostrils, and lungs burn.
He runs still.
His heart feels
fear.

Warrior reaches an impasse.
The glow worm has met him.
It is as large as the world.
It dances before him and
It consumes.
Warrior loses his self
in its beauty.
It speaks to him
and promises power
and life.

Warrior wakes
from the trance
by the burning scratch
of the drangon's claws
upon his face.
Warrior traces his fingers
across his broiled cheek.
Warrior strikes back.
His spear cuts.
A spray of hot blood flows.