I am a black stone, the size of a kitchen stove. They wash me in the stream every summer and sing over me. I am skulls and cocks, spring rain and the blood of the bull. Virgins lie with strangers in my name, the young priests throw pieces of themselves at my stone feet. I am white corn, and the wind in the corn, and the earth whereof the corn stands up, and the blind worms rolled in an oozy ball of love at the corn's roots. I am rut and flood and honeybees.
In this passage, the speaker describes an enigmatic black stone, likening it to the size of a kitchen stove, and emphasizes the rituals surrounding it. Each summer, it is washed and honored through songs, signifying its importance in a cultural or spiritual context. The imagery evokes themes of life and death, as seen in references to skulls and blood, while also intertwining human experiences of love and sacrifice. The stone represents a nexus of worship and the cycles of nature, highlighting its sacred significance.
The speaker continues to portray the depth of the stone's essence, referring to elements of nature such as white corn, wind, and the earth. These elements symbolize fertility and vitality, connecting the stone's being to the life cycles of the land. The mention of virgins, priests, and the intimate acts of offering suggests a deep intertwining of human lives with the stone's presence. The passage ultimately conveys a sense of reverence for the natural world and the enduring rituals that celebrate it, embodying a rich tapestry of existence.
