ECHO 1/3/06 - 60 die in Iraq

The Day Of Breath And Air -

Stale air beneath the Thames 24:7 – the tired sighs of a cashier over morning coffee – Eleni Karaindrou’s Eternity Theme plays – a municipal fountain splatters onto the paving stones – a plastic frog statue dressed in waistcoat and fez –

my father goes back into hospital during the night, unable to breathe despite the oxygen tank beside his bed – his condition is changing, he has not been able to shake the bronchitis for over three weeks now and in turn this is affecting his heart - the visit to the UK in January has taken its toll –

the action of flight by a falcon - actually able to breathe through its bones which are hollow and connected to its airsacs (lungs) - a more efficient respiratory system than ours -

breath – what a luxury that must seem to my father – inspiration – it makes me wonder if my father is running out of inspiration, running out of ideas and purpose as he ages – and that life ceases the inspiration fades –

so much potential departure around at the moment, time passing into the ultimate moments – maybe it is this recent proximity to the Greenwich meridian? Is it tuning me into a greater awareness of time? Sensitivity to its passing and the meaning of mortality? – I am afraid – winding my wristwatch on to change the date from February 28 to March 1, 48 hours in a matter of seconds –