Light And Shadow

Kneeling by the side of a stream
I bowed to the clear waters
Shadows danced in the deep
Sparkle of gold on the surface
The brook babbled and shone
As light and shadow slithered

I spread my arms and clenched my fists
I listened and I closed my eyes
To recognize the balance
I recalled the words of ancient seers
The council of the dead
The advice of the living
I raised my hands, unclenched my fists
The shadow slithered away

Dazzling in its shining green
A living tree was drawn
With specks of light and streaks of shadow
Seizing the light in my hand
I weighed the shadow in another
Heavy as a mountain they were
Each lighter than a feather

I spread my arms and clenched my fists
I listened and I closed my eyes
To recognize the balance
I recalled the words of ancient seers
The council of the dead
The advice of the living
I raised my hands, unclenched my fists
The shadow slithered away

Rising up to stand once more
So tiny under the great trees
I spied the treetops high above
The meander of their branches

I spread my arms and clenched my fists
I listened and I closed my eyes
To recognize the balance
I recalled the words of ancient seers
The council of the dead
The advice of the living
The light took wing and flew
The shadow slithered away