Zero Meridian<\/big>
\nby Deborah Warren<\/i><\/p>\n
It’s here beneath us, as invisible
\nas zero; but although there’s nothing there,
\nalthough it’s an abstraction – purely notion –
\nnonetheless, they drew a line in air
\nand based the world on it.
\nAnd you<\/i> could say
\nin the grand scheme of things it matters more
\nthan my October maples, or the ocean
\nthrowing the waves like sapphires at the shore.
\nor even your mouth and eyes —
\nand I’d reply:
\nMaybe you’re right. To take the measure of
\nanything that matters, we rely
\non nothing – things like longitude and love.<\/p>\n
\n