Smoke blackens your face,
Bold paintings line the creases in your skin,
Twisting and turning in the crooks of your elbows.

In the darkness you crouch,
An animal with dark cheeks and sunken eyes,
Next to the smoldering embers of your fire.

I see you skulking half hidden in the shadows,
The whites of your eyes made clear to me,
In the reflecting shadows.

I lie on my back and look up at the stars,
Beside me I feel you creep from the woods and do the same,
I understand.

I feel your spirit tingling my skin,
Open-mouthed I see the stars with the wonder of my ancestors,
Beside the dust of your ancient bones.