---

Science or The Anemoi

Navigators knew this before Magellan,
south of Polaris’ north star,
only north of Neptune’s equator,
sailors, worthy old salts,
aviators not spiraling
down, widdershins,

meteorologically,
that wind at my back,
meant low pressure
to my left.

By gods of cyclogenesis,
dancing to Coriolis,
or Thor’s twisted moods
of stormy anger and foul weather.

Counterclockwise wind
blows and grows around lows.

While tailwinds are fine for
cruising and sailings, they’re unwanted
blasts for takeoffs and landings.

---

Look both ways before you turn, either way. Mind the gaps for anyway the wind blows.

Gloss:

• Widdershins means in a left-handed, wrong, contrary, or counterclockwise direction.
• Cyclogenesis is the development or intensification of a cyclone or storm system.
• Coriolis is the force caused by earth’s rotation that deflects moving objects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
• The Anemoi are the wind gods of Greek mythology: Boreas (North), Zephyrus (West), Notus (South) and Eurus (East).