Ancient Life

Linger in an ancient place long enough
and it will come alive.
Stand still. Wait.
It will: it always does.
Here are memories floating weightlessly
that move like little girls' whispers
and little girls' smiles.

Do you see the women handing out
warm drinks on cold days
and cold drinks on warm days?
Do you see their tenderness--
the twinkle as they gossip lightly?

Do you hear the men bellow with laughter?
Do you hear their guffaws
as they debate local politics?
Do you see them eye their sweetheart secretly?

All these lives move through the crevices
of ruins and caves long forgotten.
Souls homed here, these carvings whisper.
What they did mattered.
Stay long enough until you hear them,
until you forget that time passes,
and remember that it breathes.
Get to know the memories,
then, for the sake of the people,
you will love the land.