Time, the absence of time and other abstractions

1

She heard the lock

turn, footsteps

in the hall; a pause,

on the floorboard

outside her door.

 

6 o’clock.

 

2.

The clock stopped and

who knows what time it was?

 

He heard the intermittent twitter

in the trees, the rush of wheels

on the cool tarmac; eyes fixed

on the one spot upon

the brick wall. I thought of,

 

what?

Nothing, half-images that flit

like night wings thru air

too quick, and darkness.

 

3.

And the sun rose

and rubbed her windows;

the sky, sprung-clean.

Even the flies, she feels,

bless the air. There,

 

I’m 16 again

cruising the centuries

in spring, the cemetery

path. I strode miles

over the stone and

bone, an eye on death,

but blithe, blowing my

long smoke to the sky

high, thinking, what?

Right now…right now…

 

[I wanted to seize time,

my happiness]

 

 

4.

I’m happy now to glide

beneath the pale blue eyes

of evening; her skies

 

of mottled whites and lights.

I walk from the light.

What joy?

 

To find you here.

 

24-25 September 2015