hermetic symbols

Antonie gave me this book
made of almost transparent rice paper
and said: "i've bound it myself."
oh, i should have hugged her!

now, back alone
in this icy den,
i opened it
and carefully transcribed the old magician scheme
right on a randomly chosen page --
i hoped this would bring me luck.

the light is maddeningly dim.
it has a cold shine about it,
that makes my eyes hurt and empties my head.

NO IDEAS.
i cannot understand the SYMBOLS
as they are written here.
i cannot understand
how they correlate -- even minimally --
with the mathematical keys i found.

the damp cold pierces me
to the bones
as i still sit here --
maybe i've drunk too much of that
heavy red wine.

but neither its vanishing fire
nor Antonie's memory
can warm me now.


***

images derived from these sources:

G. Huan, 1928, for the figure in the book.
E. Sibly, 1806, for the zodiac symbols on the matt.


***

made for ~Maylar’s Symbolica Contest
in search of the green book


***

hope that magician found his way...