Soft Clock

in ephemeral movement
of water
and light
the persistence
of memory

I'm reading J.G. Ballard's autobiography Miracles of Life, his last work published just before his death. In reflecting on his attempts to develop a voice as a writer he shares with us a range of his influences, with the most significant being surrealism. He describes how difficult it was, in the 40s and 50s, to access the surrealistic works of Dali and others - images that have since penetrated and saturated popular culture to the extent they can seem almost banal.

Whether or not Bradford's City Park might be seen as a Ballardian space I'll save for another discussion, but when the light is right, the reflecting pool can dissolve the sturdiest of clock towers and Dali's The Persistence of Memory is evoked.