After the fact

eliot saw it
those who lived after the fact
who died in their minds
and breathed in their memories

for those who saw colour in the past
and vividness in the future,
the monochrome of the present
only brought a sense of loss

to be in the now
to taste the infinitely tiny
particles of air at the moment
they touched aveoli

to have skin shock electric
with the gentle touch
of wind in flight
and after no memory

eliot saw it
though they could only
reminisce and ponder
on it, after the fact