A Rational Ticking-Clock

A cross-step, two and three

and a line down the center

Well-formed, a tempered ballad

plays from a record, 

It cracks like a log in a fire pit,

siphons and snaps until 

air resounds.

You came here, looking for somebody

but you stayed because of the warmth.

(And will anyone blame you?)

You'll be here as long as 

the frost lasts

or distraction pulls you back.

A misstep, four and five,

and a veer to the left

A disharmony of chords

that rattle as they rise

and fall again, a sinusoidal progression

Six and seven; 

they rise, then fall again.

Can you count the number of times

your scattered thoughts collect?

The answer, a product of primes,

an imperfect number,

a way out

of sentiment(a rational ticking-clock).

It's a finding that,

once more, the result that you wanted

is never 

the result that you get.