Page 88 of Xavier

* * *

By smoke and by flame

Three candles burning as one,

Let the dark keep its distance

‘til the burning is done.

* * *

With salt of the sea,

Make hearts pure and clean

Leave the past build the future

And time in between.

* * *

By pepper, I scatter

What stalks at his back.

Turn round on the water,

Turn round on your track.

* * *

With this coin, foot and watch

Passed from hand unto hand,

From grandfather to father

To the man where I stand.

* * *

Three generations,

and more, it will keep.

What was owed to the dead,

Let the dead take and sleep.

* * *

She opened the box and placed the coin, rabbit’s foot and pocket watch inside.

* * *

Now dirt, water, wind,

Now salt, pepper, flame —