VIII: Helios Explains (Sequential) Time

Helios continued his advice, “Phaëthon,

listen. Begin in Aries, the Ram. Zephyrs

christen land with warm winds and rain.

Fork-tailed swallows mate. Days stretch

longer. My beams of light strike wet fields

with life’s fire. Grapes and barley swell.

At summer’s height, Cancer the Crab reddens.

Then comes lesser light and the leaves shake.

Libra’s scale of light and dark hangs balanced.

Winter comes last, with Capricorn, a mermaid-goat

creature of dark months. Storms rinse sins

of the year away. Midnight lasts for hours.”

Phaëthon kept quiet but gazed away, starward.

“The year must follow this sequence,” Helios said.

“Each day I cross the Zodiac in this order

or chaos would arise.” But he saw the boy only

desired the golden helmet with seven rays.

He only desired the blazing horses of ecstasy.