The Iron Tongue of Midnight — R. A. Lafferty (cover art)
Exordium — The Local Hymn
I

We hack the pillars2 pretty much,
We overwhelm the props and clout3 them,
We need not sanity and such,4
We get along as well without them.

II

The Omate Squares5 are strong and clean,
The Robber Barons6 sleek and gobbly,7
The tongues are hot,8 the Gangs9 are green,
What matter if their eyes are wobbly?10

III

We once were apt,11 with noble stead,12
With coursing blood, and mien to please ya.
(Oh crawl into the narrow bed13
And cover with the quilt 'amnesia'.14)

IV

Oh no! We'll scale the mountain tall!15
We'll dare the crags and dare the Devil,16
More high than any one at all,17
To Sanity's bare working level.18

The Chapter Epigraphs
V  ·  Chapter One

This is the world in Kin and Kith.19
These are the bricks20 they build it with.

VI  ·  Rose-Revel Charcot's Song21

This is the farce, and the fortune too,22
On the happy hills of Woomagoo.23

VII  ·  Chapter Two

These are the hands that bless or rot.24
These are the Fire-Tongued Prophets hot!25

VIII  ·  Chapter Three

Those are the streams26 that fill it up.
These are the ones that missed the cup.27

IX  ·  Chapter Four

This is the group that really cares.28
This is the World begirt29 by Squares.

X  ·  Chapter Five

How did the scratch precede the itch?30
How have the poor become so rich?31

XI  ·  Chapter Six

How do we know what they do or say?32
We're only the guys who write the play.33

XII  ·  Chapter Seven

Only the Hulks34 will search so keen.
Somewhere an Island! Somewhere Green!35

XIII  ·  Chapter Eight

These are the prey of the rampant36 slugs.
This is the case that drives you bugs.37

XIV  ·  Chapter Nine

Never a world so fair and bright.38
It's only haunted, they say, at night.39