Old Mara

Lyrics

Lay the red thread In the fire Let it curl But never burn... Old Mara Crossed the tallow road With seven bells Sewn in her coat Six rang clear Against her ribs The seventh Answered from below Red veil rising Red veil low Count what follows Not what goes Came back Carrying winter dust Her hair was warm Her hands were cold She named each child Around the flame Then named one None of them Had known When the seventh bell begins Do not ask who rang it At sunrise Mara left no tracks The bells lay open In the mud Six were brass And black with age The seventh beat like Living blood Red Veil rising Let it pass Count the bells And miss the last