Michael Simms




Imperfect

My native tongue doesn’t allow 
the imperfect tense, so it’s difficult
to say how something might used
to happen but no more. Elizabeth
used to walk among these trees.
She used to walk among these trees
but doesn’t anymore. Elizabeth
is no more though she used to be.

My sister doesn’t anymore but she used
to walk among these trees because
she used to be happy but only
for a short while before she descended
to despair. Elizabeth we could say
used to walk among these trees
because they made her happy.
Elizabeth used to be but no more