[Intro][Morning insects, soft wooden flute and two unaccompanied voices approach from opposite sides.]
[Líf and Lífþrasir, female alto and male tenor duet, alternating]
[Líf]
One step through clover.
[Lífþrasir]
One step into blue.

[Verse 1: Líf and Lífþrasir, female alto and male tenor duet]
[Líf, warm female alto]
We hid under leaves while red heavens burned,
Drank morning moisture as seasons turned.
The forest above us was furnace and rain;
Each root held fast through thunder and pain.
[Lífþrasir, clear male tenor]
No feast in our shelter, no fire at night,
Only two voices to measure the light.
Then warmth through the branches widened our view,
And we left two footprints in the dew.

[Chorus: Líf and Lífþrasir, mixed duet, close harmony]
Two Footprints in the Dew,
One for me and one for you.
No god laid the path, no king made it true;
We stepped from the wood because morning was new.
The earth asks nothing of what our fathers knew—
It opens beneath two footprints in the dew.

[Verse 2: Líf and Lífþrasir, mixed duet, alternating]
[Líf]
We crossed a green field where shield-rings lay,
Saw sons of the thunder rebuilding with clay.
Balder stood living by Hoh-thur's hand;
Vee-tharr wore silence like dust from the land.
[Lífþrasir]
They watched us breathing, immortal and scarred,
As though mortal footsteps had caught them off guard.
Did you make all this grow?
[Gods, male ensemble]
No.

[Chorus: Líf and Lífþrasir, mixed duet, close harmony]
Two Footprints in the Dew,
One for me and one for you.
No god laid the path, no king made it true;
We stepped from the wood because morning was new.
The earth asks nothing of what our fathers knew—
It opens beneath two footprints in the dew.

[Instrumental Break][Wooden flute carries the motif over hand-played drums and lightly bowed tagelharpa.]

[Verse 3: Líf and Lífþrasir, mixed duet, alternating]
[Lífþrasir]
They showed us the pieces, the hammer, the stone,
And spoke as though gods must decide it alone.
[Líf]
I lifted the king from the pouch in the grass:
It weighs no more than rain on the brass.
Why should the dead choose the law we pursue?
The future has more than your footprints to view.
[Líf and Lífþrasir]
Teach us the runes and the errors they hide;
Sit at the fire, but not over its side.

[Bridge: Líf and Lífþrasir, mixed duet, firm harmony]
Gratitude never requires a chain,
And shelter once given cannot purchase a name.
A world made for living must listen anew
To hands still unborn and to feet in the dew.

[Build-up][The surviving gods join the human duet while the drums broaden without becoming martial.]

[Final Chorus: Líf, Lífþrasir and gods, mixed ensemble]
Two Footprints in the Dew,
Soon there will be more than two.
No god owns the path, no king makes it true;
Each generation must answer anew.
Walk beside us, not over our view;
The morning begins with footprints in dew.

[Outro: Líf and Lífþrasir, mixed duet, unison]
Two mortal voices,
Two cups by the stream.
The gods made room
At the edge of the dream.