the atomic principle of moments

is each comes
with a head and tail

they twirl like protazoa
they are beautiful, simple and strange

and can be stained
for microscopic scrutiny

complex and irreducible
as they evolve and grow

creatures horrible and lovely
they waited through ancient ages

like water beading across your window
like fingers twined among strands of air

now crystalline as snow in streetlight
cycling seasons for this brief fluoresce

atomic, no before or after this
complete, with hand held out to each of us

there is no halving here
nor holding but in whole.