Self-Portrait with Orbit
An arced path around a central point, bound to but held apart,
as in night’s returning grace, or standing waves.
In periapsis, you reach out as I slowly withdraw.
Gravity does not prevent departure but prolongs it.
The acceleration of a body is equal to the sum of the gravitational forces, divided by its mass. I rise from the chair but can’t escape.
Not circular but elliptical.
Where falling away and curving from never meet.
Realizing that I am neither focus nor center, I discover place
in symmetry, in flow and subtraction.
A cloud obscures the sun and you close your eyes.
I wither at the thought of scaling or relative size, or your departure.
In the simplest Klemperer rosette, four bodies cycle their dances,
heavy, light, heavy, light, in a rhombic configuration.
My arteries fill in opposition to desire.
Wanting you, I absolve weight and listen, accept my place.
“Self-Portrait with Orbit” is included in The Circumference of Other, my offering in the Silver Birch Press publication, IDES: A Collection of Poetry Chapbooks, available on Amazon.
O at the Edges 
No, you don’t look like that, do you?
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Only on my best days.
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Your too honest!
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That is a lovely poem – I am struck with envy. Nice!
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I’m so glad you like it. Thanks.
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Every piece you post amazes me. Makes me wonder why I even bother with my piddling poetry. Alas, I’ll keep writing because I don’t know how to stop, but you, oh you have such a talent.
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If you only knew how many rejections I received in the last month. Three in one morning! But I, too, don’t know how to stop. And thank you for your kind comments.
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You should rent/sell your titling services, Bob. “Self-Portrait with Orbit,” love the alliteration of the title, as well as the poem’s overall viscerality, the melding of science/reason and raw emotion/corporeality. Brilliant!
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I like your new business model! A titling service. Hmm. Cash up front, of course. 🙂
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I love it, but I usually do!
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Thank you, Meg. Much appreciated.
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Wow. 🙂
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Thanks!
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My mind bounced around all sorts of cosmological words as it achieved escape velocity and approached Event horizon, and as always, I am transported by your writing, Robert. Thank you.😁
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Thank you, Michael. Celestial bodies are quite attractive. Except when they’re not. 🙂
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I’ve always been more put off by the gaseous anomalies myself.
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I am with you there, Brother!
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**Sigh** Lost in the flow .
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Thank you. Gravity will see you through…
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Translating scientific concepts into the poetic endeavor is one of the more tricky around. So easy to get caught up in terminology and abstract notions that have no grounding. You’ve done an excellent job. Very impressive.
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It’s a rewarding exercise, and fun!
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My copy of “Ides” arrived today!
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15 poets,175 poems! I think you’ll enjoy it.
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Thank you for sharing this poem . . . it reminds me that our lives are likely influenced by macrocosmic forces (spiritual, Natural, or otherwise) that are beyond our individual control . . . perhaps the best we can do within the greater whole is to discover and live and share our personal passion and genius . . which you have done so well here.
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Thanks, Jan. It’s important to me to explore and include these forces in my poetry, to acknowledge that we aren’t always in control. And it’s fun.
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Fun is good!
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I had to look up periapsis and Klemperer rosette. Now I can say I’ve learned something new today. Loved the poem.
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I learn so much when I take the writing and subject areas away from my dull self.
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Really fascinating poem and that photo drew me in!
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Thank you. The photos are from morguefile.com.
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