WITHOUT THE PALISADE OF TIME
before him a photograph
two genial faces
lovers no doubt
a holiday snap?
backdrop Rouen?
Cathedral Notre-Dame?
has he seen it in a brochure?
must go there one day

pointedly she says
that that is ‘us’
‘us’ when we had no secrets
love struck ‘us’
still love struck ‘us’
her greatest hope
her mantra
her dilemma

he has no recollection
of the event
indeed of whom she might be
of history, science, politics, art
he has knowledge in abundance
yet did he exist before this day?
an irksome point to ponder
when fully formed
without the palisade of time

she, whomsoever she is
says he did…did exist
says once he took her hand
led her on the path to
paradise found

she runs her fingers through his hair
says when his memory returns
she will cry tears of ecstasy

he recognises the
taste of porridge…