II: A (Shaman’s) Prophecy

Idmon grasps his fennel staff. He nears

Erectheus the Athenian king, the querent,

a man who studies prophesies like eclipses,

spirals of comet tails, red moons—

omens of chaos. Now eerie gloaming

obscures the crowd as shadow douses sun.

Idmon the seer shakes his staff, speaks:

“I give voice to the mountain spirits.

Fear not the smoldering meteors that fall.”

The king’s breath quickens. Idmon trembles,

“Here is the interpretation. The Greek Eagle

killed the Horned Snake of India. It drowned.

“So the Hydaspes River will swallow Deriades,

prince of the Indian armies. He will die.

The river god Hydaspes will kill his own son.”

The seer falls silent in the unnatural night.

The Athenian king holds the quivering prophet

until he calms. Lightning crackles in the distance.