Deus ex Machina
Greg Rappleye
A deus ex machina will never appear in real life
so you best make other arrangements.
-Marisha Pessl,
Special Topics in Calamity Physics (2006)
Within a pastel Tilt-a-Whirl,
a spinning-dizzy teacup, the carnies take
their smirking turns, astonishing the virgins.
This—coming to know centrifugal force—
was a tale of my ’50’s. Afterwards
came heavy water, Dagmar, and the long betrayal
of the Rosenbergs. Don’t worry.
Pythagoras said, Above the clouds
and their shadows, shines a star with its light.
Ergo, each right triangle whispers the story
of Tobias, with God at his Pole Star
jacking the clutch, and Raphael in-irons, at the furthest point
of the hypotenuse—rapturous,
dragging celestial chains along the beach.
Avast, me Hearties!
Endless this infinity, because there simply is no end.
At the ill you have done Lord, be troubled,
and rejoice in the good. Above the droughty field,
beyond the Gainsborough blues of the loll-headed chicory,
the sea crows wheel and fall upon the corn.