there are no children hereabouts
nor insects
we have the place to ourselves
the water in the river is low
one can still swim at the swimming-place
but only just
everything is as one remembers it
but changed they say
the news is not good
(whoever ‘they’ are) but
as yet there is no need
to amend the procedures
we eat lunch in the garden
and talk about the past
as for the future
it presents itself continually
consuming the present
like the edge of the wildfire
that’ll one day reach the house
though by then we’ll be long-gone
where to I’ve no idea
nothing is made to last least of all
ourselves
we eat lunch we talk
there are no insects
the water in the river is low
there is no need
to amend the procedures (they say)
let us go swimming
while we still can
.
Dominic Rivron
Picture Nick Victor
.