A Carcosa lullaby.

For my son, Henry.

Goodnight Dead Moon.

In the great sacrifice chamber
In the high tower
In the basalt castle overlooking Lake Hali
There was a shining trapezohedron
And a three-lobed burning eye
And a picture of–
The food beast jumping over the dead moon
And there were three little shoggoths dining on moths
And two little Ulthar kittens
And a pair of ichor-soaked mittens
And a little toy slaughterhouse
And a young mouse
And a blade and some hands and a bowl full of viands
And a somber yellow King who was whispering "Hush."

Goodnight chamber.
Goodnight dead moon.
Goodnight food beast jumping over the dead moon.
Goodnight shining trapezohedron
And the three-lobed burning eye
Goodnight shoggoths
Goodnight moths
Goodnight kittens
And goodnight ichor-soaked mittens
Goodnight pendulum
And goodnight incunabulm
Goodnight little slaughterhouse
And goodnight mouse
Goodnight blade
And goodnight hands
Goodnight Nobody
Goodnight viands
And goodnight to the yellow King whispering "Hush."
Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises. Everywhere.