Book V. Mercury
BOOK V
Mercury
Get down, Mama. Sleep your dark eyes down.
The scarecrow’s a’comin’ and he ain’t no clown.
Cloak yourself in midnight; duck your head ’neath your wing.
Crazy things we’re hearing are not meant to be seen.
Dead trees’ bones on the hills
Wave at the tall rows of corn.
North wind howls and it chills,
Singing to the old things we mourn.
—Dr. Mary Crowell, “Get Down Mama”
Oh let me tell you cirromancy, cirromancy—
That cloud’s for you. Is this cloud for me?
How can I bear this? Darling, it’s just cirromancy.
Circe, can I look now? Can I look now?
And I will teach you cirromancy, cirromancy.
Sparklehorse knows where he has to go.
Your blood is my blood—telling it’s still cirromancy.
Truth and lies and prophecy, and some we guess, and some we know …
Circe, can I look now? Can I look now?
—Talis Kimberley, “Cirromancy”