(Calvert)



In the tenth second of forever

I thought of the sea and a white yacht drifting.

In the ninth second of forever

I remembered a warm room where voices played.

In the eighth second of forever

I thought of the life I would not lead.

In the seventh second of forever

I thought of a leaf, a stone, a plastic fragment of a child's toy.

In the sixth second of forever

I saw your mouth whispering something I could hear.

In the fifth second of forever

I thought of the vermillion deserts of Mars, the jewelled forests of Venus.

In the fourth second of forever

I could remember nothing that I did not love.

In the third second of forever

I thought of rain against a window, I thought of the wind.

In the second second of forever

I thought of a pair of broken shades lying on the tarmac.

In the first and final second of forever

I thought of the long past that had led to now

And never...

Never...

Never...