Runes nestling among ruins,
etchings disinterred:
covert education
of the young post-
apocalyptic forager.

Haruspicy of raven entrails,
the empyrean patterns of flight ignored,
ornithomancy inadequately painting
an alphabet of blood to crown pheasant
queen, dethrone royal Corvidae.

Underwater, lying in wait
a pirate chest full of pilfered
loot. Embossed on antique coins:
the key to deciphering
cuneiform deemed uncrackable;
an ancient code
suckled by barnacles.

[Avra Margariti is a queer author, Greek sea monster, and Pushcart-nominated poet with a fondness for the dark and the darling. Avra’s work haunts publications such as Vastarien, Asimov’s, Liminality, Arsenika, The Future Fire, Space and Time, Eye to the Telescope, and Glittership. The Saint of Witches, Avra’s debut collection of horror poetry, is forthcoming from Weasel Press. You can find Avra on twitter (@avramargariti).]