and incantation, in spells that must at once invoke
and protect, tell the secret and keep it.
—Mary Ruefle
Book of Magic
Murder of crows,
Cadre of killers,
Knot of toad.
Dazzle of zebra,
Scull of friars,
Den of vipers,
Perjury of liars.
Quiver of cobra,
Kettle of hawk,
Wind the spell up
With winsome talk.
Cool it with a rascal of boys…
And the charm is done.