I AM HERE 

HERE I AM 

AM I HERE /

ALL THINGS MELLOW IN THE MIND

A SLEIGHT OF HAND,

A TRICK OF TIME.

AND EVEN OUR GREAT LOVE

WILL FADE

SOON WE'LL BE STRANGERS

IN THE GRAVE.

THAT'S WHY THIS MOMENT

IS SO DEAR.

I KISS YOUR LIPS,

AND WE ARE HERE,

SO LET'S HOLD TIGHT,

AND TOUCH AND FEEL,

FOR THIS QUICK INSTANT,

WE ARE REAL.

- DUANE MICHALS, 'ALL THINGS MELLOW IN THE MIND' (1986)

- WIM WENDERS, 'ALICE IN THE CITIES' (1974)

"MY GOD, HE THOUGHT SUDDENLY, WHY AM I HERE, IN THIS DOLEFUL PLACE?  AND WITHOUT QUITE KNOWING HOW THIS HAD COME ABOUT, HE FELT THAT HE HAD VOYAGED DOWNWARD TO THE FOUL CORE OF THIS WORLD; HERE WAS THE TRUE MEANING UNDERNEATH ALL THE LOUD INFLAMED WORDS, THE SQUEALING HEADLINES, THE ARROGANT YEARS.  BUT HERE TOO, EQUALLY, HE THOUGHT, LOOKING AT THE DOCTOR, WAS PERHAPS THE CURE, THE WISDOM AND VISION, MORE PATIENT STILL...AND GOODNESS WAS HERE TOO - HE GLANCED AT HIS TWO FRIENDS - YES, BY WHAT MIRACLE DID IT COME ABOUT THAT COMPASSION AND LOVE WERE HERE TOO?"

- MALCOM LOWRY, 'LUNAR CAUSTIC' (1968)