Self-discovery is like the
development of science:
We experiment,
creating our own
armillary spheres and placing
ourselves in the centre
of our Ptolemaic* universe.
But then when we discover
new ivory spheres
orbiting around us,
a few which we feel
ourselves gravitate towards,
our whole universe changes
into a new systematic
clockwork. Revolving in a figure of eight
around a couple of particularly bright stars.
And if we’re lucky,
one begins to shine brighter
than the other and an unknown force
draws us nearer.
When revolving around the one
light in our universe,
the rhythmic beat of orbit
matches our heart.
And we find a Copernican** universe.
—
*Ptolemaic: of or relating to the second century geographer and astronomer Ptolemy of Alexandria and especially to his belief that the earth is at the center of the universe with the sun, moon, and planets revolving around it.
**Copernican: of or relating to Copernicus or the belief that the earth rotates daily on its axis and the planets revolve in orbits around the sun.
