Thrice-Summoned
When the rumour had spread in the playground
That to utter a name three times was the trick
For a spirit to teleport-in, unbound –
Well, that left me with nits to pick.
I was the kid who wanted to know,
Just what was the interval and decay ?
How spaced the words could we let things go
Till the algorithm would fail to display ?
Was a mirror needed ? For all, or just some ?
And what would a mispronouncement produce ?
I wanted experiments, testing the outcome –
Like would bettle-gurz still invoke the Juice ?
It came down to the grip of a true name –
For use their true name, and hold them in power.
And thanks to my parents, I well knew the shame
Of a boy with the mid-name of Passionflower.
So when the rumour had spread in the playground,
The taunts commanded that I must appear.
I pitied those spirits we likewise hounded –
Yelling their names till the dead can hear.
But nevertheless, I so wanted to know,
If my voice could reach to the great beyond ?
I called three times, deliberate and slow,
And waited to see on who would respond.
Despite my suspicions of phoniness,
I tested the theory all the same –
But wasn’t surprised by my loneliness –
For all I called, still nobody came.
Rhyming Couplets 