A Moment’s Universe

for David at ten months

He looks up at the trees against the sun –
and sees their random fingers stretching wide
where leafy Time has let the centuries run . . .

yet in his view the many leaves are none.
He sees no distance in the great outside.
He looks up at the trees against the sun –

a moment’s universe has just begun –
and looks away, with nothing to decide
where leafy Time has let the centuries run . . .

but down the air a new idea is spun,
taken from leaves, whose black words coincide.
He looks up at the trees against the sun – 

and he becomes the magic that is done
when light on things can hide, turn about, ride
where leafy Time has let the centuries run . . .

he shows us Nature’s mind. Now not yet one,
he has a rightness passing words, our guide.
He looks up at the trees against the sun
where leafy Time has let the centuries run.