The twenty years move slowly into place.
With eye as brush and sun as palette, a full
perspective emerges: as long ago today,
as near to far. The wish reflects a view
almost transparent. Past and distance blaze,
caught in a foreground of light, then shift.
The darkness grays, thickens. One tastes
salt rain on the wind that blows through the mist.
THE CAVE
Drop by drop
the earth is born,
a billion years
from dark to dawn
Drop by drop
as rivers flow
past sunless cliffs
no wind has known
Where no grass blows
and no birds sing
there time drips slow
and patient, clings
Drop by drop
till waterfalls
are turned to stone
Here new stars form
and mountains rise
clear of the storms
that twist the sky
Drop by drop
while caverns tall
carve crystal bones