-William / The Planets-

at 1017 Bedford, first floor, knick-knacks
held their relative positions.

it might have taken weeks of a young

mother’s deliberations, but

once decided, they held-fast to their placements,

and except for inconsequential movement caused by

daily feather-dustings, as in a simple do-si-do

with a glassy ballerina figurine, a significant change

in a knick knack's position atop a surface

was rarer than a repositioning of *tellurium on the chemical table.

*tellurium is used here without  proper authorization.

as for the planets, they move by rotating on their axes 

as well as revolving around the Sun

as well as traveling along in the great revolution

at the spiral galaxy's outer spore and even the galaxy
moves relentlessly outward, taking the planets along for the big ride.

sure, the planets hold their relative positions, but

all I’m saying is that they “move” unlike knick-knacks

which are home-bound, little 5 & 10cent objects,
nonetheless placed front-and-center for prime viewing

during the lifetime of the exhibition and yes, I realize
the nitpickers will produce scientific evidence which
advances the proof that knick-knacks
actually move as the planet moves as the galaxy moves

and so on and so forth and yes, it would’ve made more sense

to have titled this poem: “William / The Knick-knacks”–– but
tell me, who would have paid much attention to such a poem
let alone, made an effort to read its list?

the Planets:

    Mercury

    Venus

    Earth

    Mars

    Jupiter

    Saturn

    Uranus

    Neptune
    and lonely Pluto, for those still clinging.
    

the Knick-Knacks:

    Ballerina (the standard pose)

    Little Flower Girl (3 various forms)

    Dürer type "Hands in Prayer" (milk-glass)

    Scottish Terriers, one black one white

    Little Swedish Boy kissing Little Swedish Girl

    Transparent glass Horse Bookends sans books (2)

    Leprechaun-head teacup, painted
    Cape Cod authentic seashell ashtray

    Infant Jesus of Prague, living room shelf
    Infant Jesus of Prague, the the window above kitchen sink

    Infant Jesus of Prague, the shelf above the toilet bowl
    Empire State Building, bronze-colored

    Cocker Spaniel Puppy tugging at the underpants of pig-tailed girl and

    Others.