Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


FLIGHT OVER THE POLE by HORTENSE KING FLEXNER

First Line: POISED OVER THE POLE
Last Line: AND A VAGUE EMOTIONAL AFFINITY.
Subject(s): NORTH POLE; PHYSICS;

Poised over the pole
The needle of the compass,
Dedicated to the single mechanical dictum
Of the pale, blue star in the north,
Wavered, fluttered, went mad—
Loosed from its function,
It pointed nowhere.
So the mathematician smiled,
The physicist was content,
And only to the ignorant
Did the insane little needle in its box
Bring fear,
And a vague emotional affinity.



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