The Second Session with The Kemp

Took place in his bedsit, not visited in eight years.
A camp Trinidadian prowled the stairs. The room had room
For two chairs. I learnt that time could be dependent
On entropy. The universe is thirteen point
Seven billion years old. Sir Henry Sinclair
Reached Massachusetts in thirteen ninety eight.
The Phoenicians devised the world’s first phonetic
Alphabet. To see back in time you’d need to travel
Faster than light. A striped barber’s pole is derived
From the work of the algebristas, who set bones and
Drew blood between shaves. Algebra was invented
In ninth century Baghdad, twelve centuries after
Berossus told the Greeks of the fishman, Oannes,
Who brought geometry and all things humane into
Sumeria, where the first words were written on
Tablets of Clay. A supernova flares with the light
Of a million suns. In our skies they can be seen
Living and dying for no more than a few weeks.
Most of the universe is dark matter, beyond
Our discerning. I left at eleven after
Noodles, chicken and a glass of white wine.
Borges was with me, travelling through time.

12.02.04