Somewhere, on Asian shores, a child
molds a sand castle with Roman columns;
in the northern sea – a great blue whale gives birth.
Somewhere, an iceberg is born.

We are cooled, by lakeside breeze;
we eat salad and pasta in halting
greedy gulps, and wonder.

Afterwards we sit on limestone beneath
cedar trees and watch others
full of wine and youth as ourselves,
confused, as ourselves,
on the veranda of the cafe,
where the beer wife has worn so -
she thinks to scold us,
but turns to go inside
with the merest flicker of a smile.

Somewhere, a porpoise searches,
somewhere a rose bud begins.

Surely, we live – a thousand future years,
in the silence between breaths,
somewhere.

© Carlton Godbold 1987

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