A Tower of Dominos

An open tin of black wooden dominoes lay overturned on the low table, scattered in disarray. Rather than returning them to the dark box, I decided to test vertical compression. Balancing the first tile upright on its narrow edge, I stacked a second across its crown in a deliberate cantilever. One by one, I tested each joint's center of mass, building an intricate, airy colonnade that rose three tiers high. The structure stood completely rigid and silent. There is quiet delight in constructing order from the ground up.