The Queen of Swords, Inverted

I've built my altar to earth

And set the other signs below

Weeping gives back salt to stone

and the stone rewards

The man is not initiate in sacred truth

until he follows that path which has no comfort

To find the last measure of strength within

To go beyond and find it again

and again until he claws his way with

desperation cording the muscles in his throat

Relaxing not to greet the moon

Nor pause by standing stones but leave the fairy

wedding in the dusk to cross yet one more darkling plain

The leaves have caught a pale gold and I have

With my will averted winter--autumnal they

may stand forever

Earth gives power

but sacrifice requires and so

My candle I have set aside

The sign of fire must decline

For whether man have fuel or no

it burns without pity

So long have I I I been in the forging

And yet

This autumn will not stay

Nor do I see a hope for renewed spring

what have I done to be so damned?

The mysteries of fire I learned

And as its priest I still may act

But only then to burn

to never feel its warmth

Or shall I spark this pyre?

Ponderous turns the wheel

The thirteen spokes that wait on no man's call

Or deadly fast

The earth is patient

the fire is pure

the air is yet to be--I feel it

I give thee water to complete the four

returning salt to stone

Christopher J. Cramer

December 1985