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The Archer's Dance Song

Look,
 
stalker, mountain hunter,
 
once,
 
twice
 
we're going to dance/hunt
 
up to where the trees begin
 
three times in all.
 
 
Keep your head up
 
look around
 
don't make any mistakes that
 
will lose you the game.
 
 
Were you careful to?
 
  1. file down your arrowhead
  2. stretch your bowstring tight
  3. resin the feathers with catzim
  4. down to the endknob of your arrowshaft
  5. smear the fat from a stag in rut
 
down to the endknob of your arrowshaft
 
on the power of your arm
 
on the power of your foot
 
on your knees
 
on your balls
 
on your ribs
 
on your chest
 
over your heart
 
 
NOW
 
      dance three times around
 
      the painted stone shaft
 
      where the young man is
 
      lashed
 
      virile, virgin, perfect
 
 
first time around
 
 
second time around
 
    
take your bow
 
     fit the arrow
 
     aim at his chest
 
      but don't shoot with all your strength
 
      or tear into his flesh too deep
 
  
   let him suffer a little while
 
 
because this is the way
 
    
  Lord God
 
      wanted it.
 
 
The next time
 
      you dance around the (painted blue) shaft
 
     shoot him
 
again
 
                you must do this thing without
 
                a break in the dance because
 
                that is how the good fighters,
 
                the ones with shields, do it
 
                men who were chosen
 
                to please
 
                the eyes of
 
                Lord God
 
  
    As soon as the sun looks out
 
    over the eastern woods
 
  comes
 
the song of the archer
 
 
They do it all
 
          the shieldbearers
 
          the fighters.

 
 
Dance Poetry
A comprehensive anthology
Edited by Alkis Raftis
Copyright 2012

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