Forever and Forever

             Forever and Forever

What makes a sunlight moment settle in

The mind?  And does it matter? Turning of

An eye makes heartbeats leap and grin

Because of Gwen or Lance.  But is it love

And does it matter?  On the beach his arm

And shoulder fix themselves, forever set

Inside your veins, and when that does great harm,

It isn’t quite for always, is it?  Bet

Your heart that that will fade more quickly than

A fossil on the white chest cliff.  That curl

Above her ear will sting and strength in man

Will sweal and melt as quickly as that girl.

  The waves below the cliff have gnawed away

    For eons. Eaten chalk is like salt spray.

Phillip Whidden