Every day, the sun sets br you noticed? br in a great, glorious performance br of wraparound scenic splendour br as if it were the last day of the world br (we'd sue) br br and all around the world br poets who've been chewing on their pencils all day br or gazing steamy-eyed at an empty screen br without as we poets say, the Muse whispering br an ode we're owed br as poets br wonder if it could be one last chance br to write the ultimate sunset poem br to get something down today br and justify our existence beyond existing br br noting that at sunset br the red flowers in the garden glow so intensely br that you can feel it on your eyeballs br and the sunlight just when the sun disappears br lights up the whole landscape like a floodlight br on the stage set of our lives br that sort of stuff br br then next morning the sun br rises on our ultimate sunset poem br br and later setsbr br Michael Shepherdbr br