they began appearing
just like that
one after the other
first the distant ancestors
(they found it hardest
to adapt
and made their way
into the hills
and kept themselves
to themselves)
then came the men
in doublet and hose
the women in their farthingales
who thought all the lights
were the work of witches
then the more recent
in their frock-coats and
crinolines hiding from
the shiny screens
backing off from the horseless
carriages then
the men in their trilbies
and sharp suits
the women in their cloche hats
all more intrigued
than alarmed and then
the mods in their parkas
the rockers in their leathers
the hippies with their long hair
beads and sandals
they all talked
of the rapture but told us
we weren’t going anywhere
we were there already
they were coming to us
not the other way round
and expressed their horror
at how we could get it so wrong
.
.
.
.
Dominic Rivron
Picture Nick Victor
.