The Finished House

In the finished house a flame is brought to the hearth.

Then a table, between door and window

Where a stranger will eat before the men of the house.

A bed is laid in a secret corner

For the three agonies - love, birth, death -

That are made beautiful with ceremony.

The neighbours come with gifts -

A set of cups, a calendar, some chairs.

A fiddle is hung at the wall.

A girl puts lucky salt in a dish.

The cupboard will have its loaf and bottle, come winter.

On the seventh morning

One spills water of blessing over the threshold.