King of Fire and Water

The King of Fire and Water

In the seven towers
in the seven mountains
in the deep Cambodian wood

each year
for seven years
the King of Fire and Water reigns.

He has no authority,
no subjects
except for moon & monsoon--

he travels barefoot
from tower to tower
but leaves no track behind.

And so rules
for seven years
subsisting on bark and berries,

& occasional offerings
in woven baskets
left by women at the forest's edge.

In the final fall
he returns
to family, fold and fallow field,

saying nothing 
of the seven years
or the secrets of the seven towers--

for six weeks
he must abstain from sex
lest consummation consume him.

In the seventh winter
no king--
the fire is guarded in the hearth;

But in spring
lots are tossed,
and a new king assumes his throne

in the seven towers
in the seven mountains
in the deep Cambodian wood.