Counter-Rotation

Stepping out from the gravel walkway toward the lawn border, my attention settled upon a kinetic copper wind sculpture staked into the turf. Its concentric rings were designed for dual counter-rotation, yet the inner gimbal hung motionless, arrested by a dried seedpod wedged within the pivot gap. Scaling the stepped slate border to reach the lower axle, I planted my boots firmly on the stone coping. Bracing both hands against the inner copper hoop, I applied steady counter-torque. The brittle husk cracked, tumbling free into the clover. Relieved of obstruction, the twin rings immediately resumed their measured, opposing orbits, tracing silent interlocking arcs in the midday air.