I thought this to myself as Hermes landed
and let me go. My legs trembled on solid ground,
if that is what it could be called.
The soil was damp and full of ancient roots.
For a moment all I could do was look around.
The blue quartz of the mountain had receded
and was replaced by golden amber crystals
wedged into the inner walls of this cavern.
The river ended here under this tree
and began here too as it circled the mountain.
An ouroboros of water, the snake eating itself,
I thought to myself as I watched
the way the river light struck the amber crystals,
making them look lit from within.
And in turn they made the gold leaves
of the cypress tree glisten,
and Hermes’ tawny eyes danced
like a stolen sun glowed within them.
‘Hekate.’ His smile made his boyish face
look like a much younger child’s.
‘I was hoping that we would meet one day.
It appears that day is today.’
He tilted his head and his cap slipped
slightly to a crooked angle,
only adding to his charm.
‘Now my question is:
does Styx know you are here
crossing the River Lethe?’
Secrets
Hermes was part of the ruling family of Olympians,
