Once

Once I grew brown and covered with fur
And waited for cold and long and winter
Once I heard welcome and won't you come in?
And waited for old and tired and friend

Once I felt even and straight and true
And danced with, even laughed with blue
Once I knew mountains and stars and fly
And whistled with Red-tails in the sky

Once I curled soft in root and stone
And called cool moss and leafy fern home
Once I traced shadows in the sky
And into clouds wove dreaming

Once I grew round and covered with green
And waited for new and soft and spring
Once I felt sky-fire split, and death and birth
And tasted the cool sweet strong brown earth

Once I knew nothing and moon and time
And listened to dark wood and river rhyme
Once I held words as sacred, and I do
Now know the soft name of singing

Once I curled soft in root and stone...

Once I grew brown and covered with fur...