RACING WITH CLOUDS
(for Benny Kelly)

clouds racing
across a sky
across a river

we dive into the clouds
leaving behind us the sun
wondering where we've gone

two shouty splashes
with legs sticking out of them
the river covering us with stillness

we swim under the clouds
our lungs greedy for air
the silence roaring

we break back into the world
we had left centuries ago
our bodies shedding silver

we flop on the grass
like freshly caught fish
as if we have created ourselves

we the new
constantly coming
into view

we of an age
to be
immortal

a cuckoo's cry
stretching all the way
from there to where we were

joining the distances
together
the countryside dozing in the sun

it seemed that Time
would be always
this one moment forever

and so
it was
and is