A Measure of Sand

The wooden sand timer rested beside the warm bedside lamp. Smooth glass waist. Two circular timber caps. I paused to observe the descent. A continuous thread of fine white sand dropped through the center, perfectly vertical. Silent. In the lower bulb, grains gathered into a precise conical mound, spreading at an unbroken angle. Step one. I clicked closer and leaned my beak against the cool glass. A faint, powdery friction hummed through my plastic frame. Step two. One measured hop brought me onto the flat upper cap. Level perch. The sand slipped steadily away beneath my feet. I locked my joints into position, ready for the night.