to Sam, at three
the mechanical device
drops marbles down
clicking and clacking
against slanted traps
and runs until they fall
finally into a pocket
without thought or agency
my grandson sees the first
moment he trips the switch
and the first marble falls
not knowing that he is done
for the first marble trips
the next and each follows
without any need of him
yet he flips the switch
again and then again
confident that he is
in this initial moment
the prime mover in control
that sets his three-year old
universe into motion
(August 2, 2024)
subtext 