The child on a swing
Flung backwards and pumping
Tiny toes stretching
For buds in the trees

Nothing exists but whoosh rushing wind, and
Gravity’s pull and the creak of the chain
Urge high and higher
“Now push me again!”

The garden is ripe
Zucchini green plumping
in shimmering heat
Sprawled onto the lawn

Swim-suited youth unfurl in the sun, give
Exultant shrieks as they leap off the pier
Plunge deep green craters,
Then sun-sparkled splash

This moment, immobile
Attention absorbs

But viewed from a distance
Perspective reveals

Procession unfurling
Inevitable

Whatever just happened
Expect it again

Another raw night
Bleak light creeping in
A weary repeat
All hope leaching out

Coffee flask drips precious hourglass grains
Moon has delayed its return once again
Pared back one more strip
Thin sliver remains

Now every breath grates
Like the shingle, surf-dragged
The ebb tide sinking
Feels an endless decline

Monotonous anguish, grinding dull grey
Faint distant gleam bleeds horizon line stain
Swells up overhead
Dawn breaches the rim

The moment, immobile
Attention absorbed

But viewed from a distance
Perspective reveals

Procession unfurling
Inevitable

Whatever just happened
Expect it again

(It’s) all very well to place your faith
In dawn’s return,
The waxing moon

For comfort in declining years
Believe the pulse
Rolls ever on

Believe the pulse
Rolls ever on

Within the endless scroll of time
Concentric wheels
Spin synchronized

Your puny vision echoing
Unfounded hope
Endless repeat

Unfounded hope
Endless repeat

With infinitesimal click
A gap yawns wide
Between the teeth

To swallow you and all you’ve touched
Drop out of sight
Without a trace

Drop out of sight
Without a trace