JUNE TWO

Flying westward we nearly match the sun’s
Speed. Our day stretches so long we dare
To erase one date, to keep ln step with where
We’re going. I kind of miss that day–It’s June

The second–a day my diary never knew.
Two weeks from now we’re flying east again.
The days will shrink so much one date will then
Enclose two sunsets, two sunrises too:

A clearly contradictive mystery!
And though the lost June 2 is compensated
By a special June 17 doubly weighted,
The solution has a specious ring to me.

An extra day’s okay. But think of a lost day–
A hole in time, an omen, ghost, a hostage.

(24, Jakarta, June 17, l992)

Comments

I reflect on the mystery hours of daylight saving time… skipped hour in Spring, doubled hour in the Fall. And the incredible 61 second minute at the end of June once in a decade or so… the leap second. And the mystical February 29. The Roman empire had 10 months and then, ta dah!, Winter.

Scientists say that the moon and earth will tidally lock in 50 billion years and rotate every 50 days constantly facing each other. That is only theoretical since in 5 billion years the Sun will expand [beyond Mars] and then contract to a red dwarf star obliterating both earth and moon. C’est les étoiles.

[John Alvord 12/8/2025]

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