11-06-2021, 09:30 AM
I Know Why the Caged Squirrel Runs
Heading west, wheels whirling at
some fraction of the earth’s rotation
at this latitude my rubber
tires pull planet ‘round its axis
gaining me an hour in transit.
Heading east, awhirl at just
that same rate there’s no hope of progress:
catching up were supersonic
so each thousand miles an hour
is lost to be regained at rest.
Overhead the stars dance quadrilles
laughing at our plight and sun
and planet far beneath their notice
had they notice to be taken:
we’ve got minds which they have not.
Heading west, wheels whirling at
some fraction of the earth’s rotation
at this latitude my rubber
tires pull planet ‘round its axis
gaining me an hour in transit.
Heading east, awhirl at just
that same rate there’s no hope of progress:
catching up were supersonic
so each thousand miles an hour
is lost to be regained at rest.
Overhead the stars dance quadrilles
laughing at our plight and sun
and planet far beneath their notice
had they notice to be taken:
we’ve got minds which they have not.
Non-practicing atheist