He contends (seated within his magical designs
Of frozen pentacles and six-sided stars,)
Against the power of Venus and Mars
And the influence of rival planets and signs.

His fingers trace out runes and lines
Which restrain his demons as strongly as the bars
Of the strongest cell. Taking potent alchemy from jars
About his magic circle are products he combines.

To aid his wizardry, his crystal ball,
Defends his vision of the foreseen, glows
With mystic portents: Heuristic oracle!

From this, the vision conjured flows,
His potent talisman ready to call
And capture power from where it grows.

                                       1975