The Celestial Sphere
Location
Folly then, not folly now
Earth about the sun revolves
Aristarchus, show us how
Minds resist yet thought evolves
Puzzle through the paths so cryptic
Crossing orbit and ecliptic
Or lean
Between
Two ethereal extremes
Give yourself up to the trance
Fingertips on glass adhere
Hercules and Hydra dance
Turning the celestial sphere
Major tapers to Arcturus
Safe, on Zeus’ shelter surest
Rely
And try
All but Hera’s jealous eye.
I myself no hero need
Nor capricious king of gods
Find instead, of Adam’s seed
Gentleman, no shady fraud
Free of envious monarchs’ clutches
Neither will we check our touches
Nor mar
The stars’
Lofty glow, seen from afar