Kneeling by the side of a stream

I bowed to the clear waters

Shadows danced in the deep

Sparkle of gold on the surface

The brook babbled and shone

As light and shadow slithered

I spread my arms and clenched my fists

I listened and I closed my eyes

To recognize the balance

I recalled the words of ancient seers

The council of the dead

The advice of the living

I raised my hands, unclenched my fists

The shadow slithered away

Dazzling in its shining green

A living tree was drawn

With specks of light and streaks of shadow

Seizing the light in my hand

I weighed the shadow in another

Heavy as a mountain they were

Each lighter than a feather

I spread my arms and clenched my fists

I listened and I closed my eyes

To recognize the balance

I recalled the words of ancient seers

The council of the dead

The advice of the living

I raised my hands, unclenched my fists

The shadow slithered away

Rising up to stand once more

So tiny under the great trees

I spied the treetops high above

The meander of their branches

I spread my arms and clenched my fists

I listened and I closed my eyes

To recognize the balance

I recalled the words of ancient seers

The council of the dead

The advice of the living

The light took wing and flew

The shadow slithered away