Oshún

 

 

The river lily gilds the world.

The world caresses the river's shore.

In the river's mirror we all see our beauty.

The lily in the mirror,

the river of the world.

 

There is bread and water, and then there is honey.

 

Sweet tingle of desire like music

pouring through the air and our souls

as we dance and touch and reach

for that promise written in each other,

sealed in our skins

and our smiles,

that we cannot help but keep.

 

There is bread and water, and then there is honey.

 

We taste you when we taste the banquet,

the jangle of money in the purse is your laughter.

You study the heavens and can name the stars,

placing them in our eyes

with our lover at night.

When God made tears for sorrow,

you dared to also claim them for joy.

 

There is bread and water, and then there is honey.

 

Your lips stretch like the Nile;

grinning, you beckon us to coolness

with a face as bright as five suns.

You wash our lives and take our breath away

only to hand it back, clean and adorned.

Teach us the magic of love,

of pleasure, of everything that death is denied.

 

There is bread and water, and then there is honey.

 

Enchantress, little girl,

bold woman smooth in gold,

you sailed to heaven on your wings

to save the earth you had made so wonderful.

You abandoned heaven and even God was envious

of his daughter as lovely as his dreams.

You returned to earth and brought heaven with you;

everyone knew you could never leave either.

Never leave us, please stay

and rescue us daily;

never leave us so our lives grow

to fill the immensity of our hearts.

 

There is bread and water, and then there is honey.

 

 

 

 

© 2000 Gregor Everitt