Essie Jain

and sometimes it happens
that you are friends and then
you are not friends
and friendship has passed
and whole days are lost
and among them
a fountain empties itself

and sometimes it happens
that you are loved and then
you are not loved
and love is past
and whole days are lost
and among them
a fountain empties
itself into the grass

and sometimes you want
to speak to her and then
you do not want to speak
then the opportunity has passed
your dreams flare up
they suddenly vanish

and also it happens that
there is nowhere to go and then
there is somewhere to go
then you have bypassed
and the years flare up and are gone
quicker than a minute
so you have nothing

you wonder if these things matter
and then as soon you begin to wonder
if these things matter
they cease to matter
and caring is past
and a fountain empties
itself into the grass

Brian Patten