The Line

In a short time, this will be

A long time ago. Always

True, that line from an oater,

Spoken by a character

Not so long ago. But soon.

Already another world,

Or rather, many others,

Have passed over the planet.

Long ago rests in access—

You have to know some of it

But not see much left around.

Comparative long ago

Is for clocks and calendars.

Absolute is memory

Of the recent allowing

A partial reconstruction

Of what’s not much left around.

Without that information,

There’s no making long ago.

Long ago can’t be never,

Can’t be completely unknown.

In a short time, this will be

Long ago. In enough time,

This, and you, weren’t, were never.