Thetis

Cheiron has counselled Peleus  that if only
he can hold on long enough  while Thetis
turns into  water, fire, lion, serpent,
she will accept him.  Should that  really happen
he would know, she would not  need to explain
that
the water
is grief engulfing
then purifying,
the fire
is passion obliterating
then renewing,
the lion
is anger ravaging
then strengthening,
the serpent
is fear poisoning
then healing itself.
Then, their struggle would become a dance:
each turning towards, away from, the other;
shape-changing, mirror-imaging; countering, balancing;
all movements inside a stillness
expressing parables of loss,
creating symbols of desire,
weaving a sacred calm,
discovering the journey's circle.