Rover

Looking past the watchtower and the painted crown,
nearly touched by the stretching hand and its bolted stigmata,
he stands on the treadmill.

A hole folds below the bedroll and a shining shell.
A spiral reflects under a table of bowls.
A red hat lies on the ground.

He stops on the first step, the scaffolding to his left.
A cloud rests on a triangle painted with flowers.
Pots hang on the ends of branches.

As he climbs the bright tower of rubbish
a sparkling castle leans against the wall
and grey slabs get larger as they recede.

He stares at the three balls lying below:
An image has slipped down and one corner rests on the ground.
Coloured threads tangle in a tree.

His smaller black companion is at his side.
Rising up before them are seven crosses: a gold chain links them all.
A pole pierces three stones on a blue background.