TREASURES FROM THE MOUNTAIN

The Present

As they were leaving the garden

one of the angles bent down to them and whispered

I am to give you this

as you are leaving the garden

I do not know what it is

or what it is for

what you will do with it

you will not be able to keep it

but you will not be able

to keep anything

yet they both reached at once

for the present

when their hands met

and laughed

from Garden Time

W.S. Merwin