A long time has passed and yet it seems
Like yesterday, in the midmost moment of summer
When we felt the disappearance of sorrow

And saw, and saw beyond, saw beyond the rough stone walls
The flesh of clouds, fresh with the scent
Of the southern desert, rise in a prodigal
Overflowing of mildness, of mildness

It seems like yesterday
When we stood by the iron gate in the center
Of town while the pollen-filled breath
Of the wind drew the shadow of the clouds
Around us so that we could feel the force
Of our freedom while still the captives of dark

And later when the rain fell and flooded the streets
And we heard the dripping on the porch and the wind
Rustling the leaves like paper, how to explain
Our happiness then, the particular way our voices
Erased all signs of the sorrow that had been
Its violence, its terrible omens of the end?