II 
 The stars of the northern sky revolve 
 in a circle dance, but slowly, slowly  
 (serpent mating with tortoise). The round  
 is a carol, revolving counter-clockwise  
 against the sun’s apparent motion, as witches  
 turn with the left hand in, or withershins. 
  
 Instead of a ladle, instead of a dance,  
 a Bear: a lumbering she-bear nosing  
 the trunk of the cosmic tree. Or again,  
 the seven sages, the Hindu Rishis,  
 pace round the cosmic mountain. Instead  
 of any of these, it may be a plough.  
 It may be a thigh, or the leg of an ox.