30:30 2014, Day 5

Method to Learn the Future

In a dry room, arrange a willing virgin
and a canvas of good size. With a sable
brush dust strong red pepper (or tobacco
snuff if it can be found) in both nares
of the virgin, to bring about a sneeze,
and another, and so on until a good drip
of blood comes forth. He or she
must sneeze a final time, addressing
the canvas with its full percussion
and amplitude. This ruby speckle
is the premonition. Unpack it.

We control here for clarity of vision,
but any like scatter will do. The signature
of fallen blood looks only like the future.
Not the freckles of an eclipse threaded

through a pinhole camera. Not the fireworks

screensaver that came with the system.

Not a spray of holly for the looming
holiday.