2016 2/30

AIM. - The Twenty-third Spirit is Aim. He is a Great Strong Duke. He appeareth in the form of a very handsome Man in body, but with three Heads; the first, like a Serpent, the second like a Man having two Stars on his Forehead, the third like a Calf. He rideth on a Viper, carrying a Firebrand in his Hand, wherewith he setteth cities, castles, and great Places, on fire. He maketh thee witty in all manner of ways, and giveth true answers unto private matters. He governeth 26 Legions of Inferior Spirits; and his Seal is this, which wear thou as aforesaid, etc.

The hoard we threaded our way through

welding tanks and boxes with question marks on the sides

gutted televisions, an oscilloscope

a piano, a dead aquarium

the black phone, the oil and the gasoline

the bedrooms packed with rotting fabric

with wet books

the crumbling walls

the dropping ceiling

the thousand mice

consumed in fire

do you resurrect?

Stand flickering in the half-dark

your overgrown foundations

a dare, a legend trip

for local teenagers

your overflowing garage,

clay ditch and fire-pit?

Or do you sleep in the mud

you glutted mouth

and await our return

we ghosts of Illinois