A poem for my friend, Shaman Bill.

THE SHAMAN’S CIRCLE

The circle outlines stars, sun and moon,
forms the path of planets and constellations,
creates the round sounds of birdsongs,
and the orbit of the hunting hawk.
It is both entrance and exit,
the shape of the womb,
the shape of a last breath,
an opening that inhales things outgrown,
an opening that exhales new realities.
It is the wheel that time travels upon.
Reach out, clasp hands
form the shaman’s circle
that encircles everything.
It is the shape of an embrace.