Ovid begins by noting that the first day of the month is dedicated to Carna. He then identifies her as the goddess of the hinge, who is elsewhere known as Cardea, a name Ovid does not use: "By means of her divine presence "(numen)" she opens things that have been closed, and closes things that have been opened." The source of her powers "(vires)" have become obscured by time "(aevum)", but he promises that his poem "(carmen)" will clarify the matter (6.101–104).