The Celestial Rings

I followed the brick pathway through the garden gate to reach the fluted pedestal standing among the rosemary beds. An aged bronze armillary sphere rested atop the limestone, its concentric rings tilted and held fast where a dry twig had wedged into the meridian joint. Planting my boots along the carved stone rim, I found a steady footing. I braced both hands against the heavy equatorial band and exerted a calm, upward force while clearing the obstruction with my thumb. The brass surrendered its tension with a low resonance, rotating smoothly around its polished axis once more.