I am not sure what forever is--perhaps some construct we have modeled in our linear minds to describe something about which we, trapped in this moment, know nothing. Yet we almost all believe we can extrapolate the future from what we perceive to be our past with the understanding that time moves along this narrow defined line.

It is a circular definition that we use to measure time. We define the speed of light (or any other force by which we could measure time) a constant, and quanitfy time, not by the force itself, but by something which we believe to occur at a fixed rate--but does it really? Or is it simply illumined by this force which we barely touch and, though we have named it, cannot hold, observe or even define. Sure, you can watch the atomic clock, but can you actually watch an instant?  What is a moment?

But it is not so simple as this if all time exists, particularly, if time is not linear at all. Perhaps we live tomorrow separate from this line, infinite turnings on some continuum most of which this little line in my head will never touch. Can we ever fully know tomorrow if we do not even stop and know today?

To quantify a basal unit of time could be the next really big discovery in the realm of physics. I am not certain that such a unit exists, but there are enough clues in things in the known physical universe (such as intertwined particles which, inexplicably, alter simultaneously independent of distance between them), which indicate that there are other forces at work than those explained via yesterdays simple forces to suggest to me that such might exist, that something more must exist. It may be, for instance, that the reason gravity is so weak compared to other forces is that it is, like time, a ubiquitous force and we only sense a small portion of it. Were we to look at gravity in light of time, we might see it as the monumental force that logic tells us that it should be. Perhaps time itself is unmeasured because we have only encountered one unit of it and for such reason do not recognize the pull. I suppose that time will tell ;-)

it could be spring for all i know
were i to let my memory pass
and take this day
without those which have gone before it.
or perhaps it's a cool summer day--
the leaves are certainly green enough
and the light is beautiful today
but here, the sun is a bit low:
this must be the fall in that time
before the trees have figured it out
and turned their leaves
to yellow and crimson
presenting themselves as authors
of their new dreamworld
and they, children, with bright crayons
and free imaginations
not ready to drop their foliage
nor surrender to the harsh winter.
it could be spring for all i know