At the War Memorial

At the War Memorial (21st May 2008, 11.28pm)

I fall on the hallowed grass
I push my back into the stone
I squint, bright-eyed, into sunlight
I drown in a sea of memories
I watch the tide as he rolls in on me
I lose count of the tidy white tombs
I gaze out onto the magic eye picture
I let Time creep behind the statue
I wait for a truth that hides itself
I kick off my tired shoes
I draw my sunglasses down like blinds
I hide my face in my knees
I let my body slide
I fiddle with last year’s fading poppies
I wait for the sun to yellow and sink
I sit until the day wears off
I watch Evening cast her cloak of stillness
I rest in peace beneath the lists
I feel my skin grow chill with dew
Where are you?