A Fourth of Nine

Like the globe she dances Spinning on pointed toe Pole to pole she meets With arms en haut to show Perfect orb, she crystal glow Out as far as up, and Down as far as in. Jormungandr swim Slicing through the molten core, A double sided blade, To each degree of astrolabe Swim figure eight eternity. Diametric pins astride The face of ticking time A fourth of nine Then up to meet Parallel at noonday chimes The halfway of the day Announce his symmetry. Just like in hand at quarter three That teatime hour, gone Like falling sand, the face On chain of gold or silver, Through the hunter’s window. Once again at midnight black The arms of time rejoin Same and like is to the day The middle note is rung. And poles so far Like penché toes Pointed to sky and hell Now both to heaven Two star-ward gazing hares The black and white of chess in place Adjacent palette foes. My lover and my enemy For this minute of the day A fleeting time to my dismay Are sleeping wed bedfellows.