A poet engages in a series of supernatural communications through a Ouija board, seeking to decode the fundamental structures of existence. James Merrill serves as the primary narrator, documenting his interactions with spirits who reveal the history of the universe and the mechanics of the afterlife. The narrative framework is epistolary and diaristic, capturing the poet's attempt to synthesize these otherworldly messages into a coherent poetic structure. He faces the logical constraints of human language and the inherent instability of the medium, as he balances his personal life with the increasingly complex demands of the entities he contacts. The text functions as a record of a spiritual and intellectual inquiry that challenges the boundaries between the living and the dead.

Readers and critics often characterize this work as a dense and ambitious project that pushes the limits of the epic poem form. Discussion frequently centers on the intricate interplay between the poet's domestic life and the vast, abstract cosmology presented by the spirits. Many observers highlight the technical precision of Merrill's verse, noting how he manages to maintain lyrical quality despite the heavy burden of metaphysical exposition. The work is frequently cited for its unique synthesis of occult themes and modernist sensibilities, making it a subject of ongoing academic interest. Readers often note that the poem requires significant patience to navigate, yet they find the resulting intellectual architecture to be a singular achievement in twentieth-century literature.