Eyes closed in a stone semi-circle.
At rest in the arena
she saw a shaft of sunlight
spotlight their outlines
and heard the tread of sandals
on a dusty lane.
Toga clad figures
waving banners
heralding a stadium event.

A tour group
shattered the moment
and showed her that
transitory time
had unaccountably
tricked her senses
into a phantom past.
A time slip
had teased a glimpse
backwards through
the reverse window.
An instant in which time
had reaped its impermanence
and awakened sleeping ghosts
from a dead second.
Imaginary time suspended
in a black hole.