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The sun is a drum
                              the moon is a cymbal
The flow of time is caught in a cup.

Cupful by
                cupful by
                            cupful time

is cut; if not,
                 we should choke.

By night in the northern quarter the Dipper
or Northern Ladle or Bushel Measure
turns like the hand of a clock measuring time
although no punctuating tick or tock
notches its arc, sunset to sunrise.