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| photo by Patricia Seaton |
Place de
l'Horloge, Avignon
Beneath the
fourteenth century Gothic clock
where
animated figures strike the hour
the
double-decked old carousel turns round.
Its horses'
riders grin and laugh and wave.
Some ride
above the others, some below,
some sit on
steeds and some on frogs and some
on swans or
pigs or ornamented thrones.
And all
around are lovely painted scenes
of heroes,
quiet ponds and mountain heights
that -- were
they not so fine -- could all be real.
The riders
speed along and go nowhere.
(Their
motion by itself is motive too.)
Each face
betrays a soul absorbed in what
is happening
just then. This must be wise.
But when the
music stops -- it always is
too soon --
the children know the jig is up.
They then
descend a few more minutes old.
They've
passed the time and I’ve done nothing more.
William Seaton, from his forthcoming collection, Planetary Motions, Giant Steps Press
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