there is a scientist
who travels each year
to the top of the world
to find True North

he measures all around
until he zeros in on his elusive target

every direction from where he stands is south
he is in every time zone
he exists in yesterday, today and tomorrow
all at once

maybe he has the best job in the world
sledding around up there on the ice
alone with those simple honest sled dogs

racing over white slick of snow in the clean air
under the midnight sun

oh, to measure with certainty
an unerring truth
for just one moment
before it slips away