6 SEPTEMBER 1963, Page 20

That Sunlight

That sunlight has gone now :

Fallen on Africa, hammered into the hard, red dirt.

In the picture it still shines though, Matt On the river, smooth on the man's shirt, Striking hip and cheekbone as you stand By the boat, no model-girl but predisposed To elegance. No one could find Reason to hate this photograph. The incident is closed.

Secrets are kept. The boat has crossed the bay.

But why were you smiling? Who was the photo- grapher?

All answers hide more than they give away.

The past is what we cannot share. .

PHILIP OAKES