The tribal holy man thought about the gods
who were inscrutable so he prescribed laws
and the people planted rows of wheat
scooped channels for the hidden-spring spirit
laid vermillion stones radiating from the circle
whose center was an eye
They covered the ground with eyes
white pebble rings around them
some spotted like black beans in a red clay dish
some ringed as if with surprise
When they finished their creation
they sat back on their haunches
their toes making reservoirs in the sand
their backs ached their faces shone
When no one was watching a ghost snake
rose from the underworld then the ghost snake
and the green-banded earth snake
licked cheeks
and the circle-eye-stones moved
lining up like a path