the hollow chatter
of the talking of the tadpoles,
who know th’outside!
Joanna Newsom, “Sprout and the Bean” (The Milk-Eyed Mender, 2004)
Image Description
Two tadpoles, with long tails and back legs, swim up toward the surface of a pool of water. The water is teal blue with multicolored weeds or coral at the bottom, and the sky above is yellow orange. Between the tadpoles there are two crossed driftwood sticks. Underwater the sticks are white, but their tips above the water are red.
Interpretation
The tadpoles from “Sprout and the Bean” are new to the world and still have not left the shelter of the water, yet they instinctively know what awaits them outside. This card pertains to genetic memory, and yearning toward something which one does not yet fully understand. More literally, it can signify immaturity (the tadpoles need to grow before they can walk on land) or idle chatter.