relativity

it was not so long ago. or maybe it was,
maybe a circular, cyclical eternity has come and gone.
the stretch of elastic seconds speed themselves on without you;
the fluid flow of the river that is deaf to the eulogy of the pines.
the rush and roar of water does not quiet itself, does not stop to listen
to the final creak, the singular groan of agony, the tree falling
in an empty forest.
it is difficult for me to say
how much water has passed us by-
this woody corpse, and I.