Time present and time past
And time future contained in time past.
If all time is eternally present
All time is unredeemable.
Remaining a perpetual possibility
Only in a world of speculation.
What might have been and what has been
Point to one end, which is always present.
Footfalls echo in the memory
Into the rose garden. My words echo
Thus, in your mind.
But to what purpose
Disturbing the dust on a bowl of rose leaves
I do not know.
Other echoes
Inhabit the garden. Shall we follow?
The deception of the thrush? Into our first world.
Had the look of flowers that are looked at.
There they were as our guests accepted and accepting.
To look down into the drained pool.
And they were behind us, reflected in the pool.
Then, a cloud passed, and the pool was empty.
Hidden excitedly, containing laughter.
Cannot bear very much reality.
Time past and time future
What might have been and what has been
Point to one end, which is always present.
~T. S. Eliot