Circle the Fire

[Verse 1] You sleep by the treeline I pace by the stone You dream in a circle I’m pulled to the unknown You braid every morning Into one woven thread I bury my secrets Where the snow goes red [Chorus] How much wolf must I lose to walk beside you How much howl must I hide to wear your name How much feather can you keep and still be faithful To the sky that called you first before I came [Verse 2] You gather the neighbors Call them all by their names I track only shadows And forget every face You toss me your laughter Like it’s something that stays I bring you dead branches You turn them into blaze [Chorus] How much wolf must I lose to fit your doorway Leave my teeth at the mat Learn your quiet games How much raven can you keep perched on your shoulder Before this little house bursts into flame [Bridge] You want the winter tamed I want the window open (oh) You want a settled name I only answer to the broken You say “Stay Stay” Till my fur feels like a costume I say “Fly Fly” While you clip your wings in the back room [Chorus] How much self must be spilled for us to belong here How much vanishing counts as being seen How much raven can remain in all your nesting How much wolf can I be and not blaspheme [Outro] You circle the fire I circle the hill Two dark shapes in the half-light Wanting each other Wanting Still