Waltzing the spheres

Christian Century, Sept 13, 2000 by Susan Scott Thompson

   We pulled each other closer in the turn
   around a center that we could not see--
   This holding on was what I had to learn.

   The sun can hold the planets, earth the moon,
   but we had to create our gravity
   by always pulling closer in the turn.

   Each revolution caused my head to whirl
   so dizzily I wanted to break free,
   but holding on was what I had to learn.

   I fixed my eyes on something out there firm,
   and then our orbit steadied so that we
   could pull each other closer in the turn.

   The joy that circles with us round the curve
   is joy that passes surely as a peace,
   and holding on is what we have to learn.

   And if our feet should briefly leave the earth,
   no matter, earth was made for us to leave,
   and arms for pulling closer in the turn--
   This holding on is what we have to learn.