Nairn Revisited

Age puts distance between present and past

connecting time present to time past so that

when we go outside to where wild things grow 

all of us breathe and exhale time future.

Age is the measure of circumferences of the sun 

so that all of us age at the same daily rate

although we may measure our age by our looks

and not go by what might be recorded in books.

Except time present is date time location stamped

by satellites passing unseen overhead so that

even at sea far from land in a sailboat or 

on land far from a road you’re surveilled by a spy cam.

Entangled with your muse timeless and eternal

Age puts distance between present and past.

Dick Russell © Richard M Russell

                        2024

(Nairn

Age puts distance between present and past

stretching lengths longer than any string 

connecting time present in electricity

to time past in books made of paper pulped from trees

to photographs and film to ruins that outlast

time present time future wherever we can ping

For only at sea far from land in a sailboat

or on land far from a road can I imagine 

sempiternal time’s wild attractions

alone with whatever weather sky apportions

alive that moment wearing not wasting time’s coat

unbuttoning time’s blouse I imagine

Entangled with my muse timeless and eternal

Age puts distance between present and past)