Some theories suggest
our iron cores attracted and merged
beneath the sunset stripes
of a reducing atmosphere.

Formed a system of two
             (coincidentally, obliquely met,
                      eclipses total)
eliminating wobble.

Planets are pretty big.
They don't blow up instantly.
Vapor squirts out,
escaping under pressure.

We utterly depend
on our partner in space,
odd bald rock,
fond old cliché.

What you're seeing now,
gauzy with particulars and reflected light,
we consumed together eons ago.