Toward a Higher Order

Putting behind now his hit-or-miss clack
at the digits of the cast-off typewriter,
the child begins to tally his domain.
Rakishly, he starts with 20, a daring
foothold up and not too steady,
taps the progression of units onward
slowly at first, asking is this it? Is this?
Approaching 29, foretelling
that a trick is needed, that he can’t keep simply
going on his hard-won path, he tenses
holds his breath, jabs 3 and then
the 0: the universe has shifted for him;
he grasps his power, proudly claims
the 3 and 1 its keys.

~ Naomi Myrvaagnes ~