"Root to Piston"

Cold iron.

Bone and wire. (tik-tok)

Measure

the stone.

Zero.

One. The circle

binds.

Root to piston.

Iron minds. (clack-clack)

Steel in the soil.

Breath under oil.

Divide the marrow.

Keep the tally straight. (shhh-ha)

Thread the needle through the spine.

(one-two-three, one-two) Mark the flesh,

obey the sign.

(cut,

seal,

hold)

Iron turns to bone.

Stone remains alone.

Two

steps

forward.

Two

steps

bound.

Three

counts

striking in the ground.

(ta-ta,

ta-ta,

ta-ta-ta)

Cold

current.

Old

skin.

Let the gear spin.

(bind,

strip,

strike)

We gave the river

to the machine.

(we gave the blood)

We left the furrow

cold and clean.

(we set the rod)

Six beats ringing.

None forgiven.

By the hammer we are driven.

(tik-tok,

tik-tok)

Stone!

Wire! (break the seam)

Bone!

Fire!

(bleed the steam)

Two.

Two.

Three.

Three.

Two.

Done.