Work Text:
Alchemical Arithmetic
One is one
A singleton
A singularity
One so true
And it is Two
A right duality
The couple dance
In just romance
What is become is Three
A triad - more
And it is Four
In squared simplicity
Four maidens move
Till Five doth prove
The pentacle more free
Five points revolve
Thus Six resolve
From possibility
Sext to Sept
The kingdom kept
A Seventh part in fee
Seven gems
In diadem
Make Eight scintillantly
Eight legs leap
Thrice Three to reap
And Nine descends the tree
Nine ages man
Contrives to span
The Tenth triumphantly
A rounded Ten
Around again
Eleven makes a plea
Eleven wights
Then Twelve delights
In sovereignity
This rhyme complete
The numbers meet
In perfect alchemy
-----