Tiny dogs are running backward on leaves
This is the first song and the last song
the song of the earth
before spirits learned to form words
and name the stars
before the cycle of living and dying
before men disappeared in the forest
and returned as salmon

This is the song of the horizon awakening
song of horses running after themselves
song of fire climbing
turning into stars
song of the colors of lightning
of clouds of invisible ancestors
song of the first and last breath

And the tiny raindogs keep on running
up down and around
among ashes, stones, sunlight
They are birthing the mountains
birthing the grasses
birthing thunder birthing dirt
birthing the night
on moth wings

-John Davis