Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
The cyclone cannot feel the air;
The drain disavows the water—
The roof’s an outright liar.
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The rancher cannot break her mare.
She’s broke and both will soon retire—
The cyclone cannot hear the air.
The teacher’s a screen, he’ll soon retire
“What is theory, what is crossfire.”
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The children think they’re scoring higher,
But they just spin the virtual where
The cyclone cannot see the air.
Who will stay when oceans boil over?
Who will return when pavement catches fire?
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The cyclone cannot flee the air.
Notes: This piece is part of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize portfolio in the October 2023 issue.
Source: Poetry (October 2023)
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