House-Warming
The fire is lit
The priest intones his prayers
No incense lifts
(The sandalwood of childhood is too dear)
Flowers pass hand to hand
as do generations, prayers and the life of man
The silver chalice is struck four times
for the four directions
(The fire stood in for the waters
of feeling)
Blessed are the fruits of the earth
The fire is transferred to the hearth.
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