Indicate to memory, and she'll lead the way
Past potent present in this present place.
To the intermingled dregs and sweets
Of our parallel past.
Point her to the present of other places
Link her to facets of a thousand faces
Words, gestures and time-enhanced impressions.
Thus continually back, ever back, back
Each step the weaker than its begetter.
Each recollection blurred to a mental image
Of a non-existent state in space.
Back is nothing thus;
Now is only back;
Forward is a poignant blank.
Always forward to the present never reached.
There is no escape by going back.
And we pause on the brink of the forward nothing.
Frightened.
Then discard memory—horror, nothing.

•

Ripples of sea move gently up blank beach
Shifting a grain of sand
And slip back again
Then, eternally., another ripple comes.
And the ripples were love, and
I was part of each
More recent ripple.

But now no longer shall I move
Near stagnant shore and smooth brown stones;
Now to float or dive in clear deep sea
Away from all but water.