through the sticks and burnt trees

she walks with snowy skin

cold steam and loneliness

like a new car on icy roads

her eyes like mirrors underwater

cold, deep and blue

she circles me

the crawling lava

red fingers reaching and hardening

aches when i move

it is the together

bound with some ancient light

and forward movement

this is our time

tedious gathering

reds follow different paths

do not envy

do not tire easily

intricate tunnels

built by one mind

thousands of arms

gaping jaws and hard shells

this is the job

this is the future