Monday, January 16, 2012

old photographs



Looking at old photographs of people
Seeing the expressions on their faces
How each person looks at me looking at them
Looking as if they are alive today.

Seeing their clothes and hair styles
Setting them in another time and place
That does not exist except as a memory
My imagination goes back there.

No doubt my dress and the things about me
Will look strange to some person in the future
Though today it mostly conforms to the norm.
My imagination goes ahead there.

Here now where I am
The past and future speak to me
And I listen closely as if I could hear their stories
Told by the silent people of these photographs

Thursday, January 5, 2012

2020



We see what we imagine.
20/20 is a measure of good eyesight.
2020 is a year in the seeming far future.
Suppose I am alive and well in that year.

That’s possible.
Where will I be living?
What will I be doing with my days?
I imagine I am happy enjoying a good life.

Will you also be alive and well
And with me? I hope so.
You are happy to be with me now
As am I with you.

We discover new places and creatures.
We learn about new discoveries in science.
We volunteer to help others.
Doing this together will never get old.

Doing this alone would be a heartbreak.
That’s not what I imagine in my daydream.
But we who have known great losses know
To enjoy now for the time being today.