This Must Mean Something

Which is the oldest shape
Of magic in human
Eyes—circle or spiral?

One is perfection; one
Is the labyrinth. But
Neither one dominates

Humans’ own shapes nor shapes
Of the most magical
Of predators and prey.

Spiral galaxies aren’t
Obvious to bare eyes,
And few of nature’s rings

Come close to true circles.
In the caves both share space
With hand stencils and more

Representational
Figures of animal
Magic. Why circles? Why,

Especially, spirals?
As a child you drew them
All over your notebooks,

In part because you could
But also they looked good.
Why would spirals look good?

If it didn’t have to
Mean something, would it all
Still compel you to draw?