II

Oak or rata they carried 
half charcoal half ember 
wrapped in foreign moss 
thorugh torrents through darkness 
for keeping the fires burning 
tended in the empty hearth 
for our warmth and to light our ways 
interdependence of subcultures within culture 
allowing the phoenix of custom to re-ascend 
to rekindle 
the seeds of fire to be planted near 
the felled stumps of giants 
To 
every cause an effect 
every reaction an action 
every will, relatives 
every journey a new home 
every return progress 
everything extinguished lacking 
every purpose a time under heaven 
and though we can trace the cycle 
of our tongues of flame back to 
Jove's bolt or Mahuika's fingernail 
delimiting and delineating time 
given then received now we remain 
creatures of habit 
created by instinct 
we weave our pattern through 
each and by every creator 
though all that’s our making 
must be made of taking 
born to those born before 
borne through existence 
by a berth before our widening wake 
made to mould of dust 
and once it is realised that the dual is singular 
twins are of the same womb 
a couple’s sole right is togetherness 
one while apart 
even the mutually exclusive 
require one another to be separate 
six of hearts, six of clubs 
snap! 

First published in "Potato" 2008.