Water, Fire, and Smoke

It's been a long journey to come to this place.
I've traveled in time and I've traveled in space,
And I've traveled in circles till I've come face to face
With the water, fire, and smoke.

I've pondered and worried, I've tightened the rope;
I've feasted on sorrow and starved out my hope.
Now I come like a lover, my heart in my throat:
Give me water, fire, and smoke.

Water for cleansing my eyes and my ears —
Fire the transformer of sorrows and fears —
Smoke for the ancestors, drawing them near
With the water, fire, and smoke.

So run from the churchyard, the Word and the cross;
Run to the forest, to the rivers and the rocks!
You will find a green altar deep in the moss:
You'll find water, fire, and smoke.

Ancient the wisdom of rocks, trees, and wind;
Ancient the rites of the green sacrament.
Long before judgement, atonement and sin,
There was water, fire and smoke.

I lay down my burden, the weight of my years,
Gods I have worshipped and causes held dear,
And who will I be when they all disappear
Into water, fire, and smoke?

I've knelt in the ashes. In peace may I rise,
Empty of knowing and full of surprise,
Clothed all in silence, a child baptised
Into water, fire, and smoke.

So run from the churchyard, the Word and the cross;
Run to the forest, to the rivers and the rocks!
You will find a green altar deep in the moss:
You'll find water, fire, and smoke.