Time can be a conceited
devil of a problem,
Snatching opportunities
and curtailing plans.
It tolerates lethargy and
halcyon day-dreams,
But abruptly draws the
curtains on evermore.
Childhood adventures never
entertained ends,
There was a sense of this life
cruising onwards.
Birthdays used to be fun
and wishfully desired,
Too soon decades become three
score and ten.
Many horizons of
unaccomplished hopes wait,
Busy days and years
consume freedom and age.
Sharing experiences
between back then and now,
Photographs trigger the
instances of fun or tears.
Time is an inflexible master,
who seeks accuracy,
It sweeps today towards
tomorrow without mercy.
Little wrinkles of
irritation appear from no-where,
Grey hairs peep out of
place without any warning.
Alarm bells ring when
tiptoeing creaks fragile joints,
Remember when we danced through
a whole night.
This life is merely a pinpoint
in universal existence,
Time keeps watch as we
move between generations.
©Copyright Eileen T O’Neill 10/06/2015
Poets United Mid-Week Motif: ‘Time.’..
Time can be a conceited devil of a problem,
ReplyDeleteSnatching opportunities and curtailing plans.
Often it is that time just isn't on our side..it draws out sweat and blood until its satisfied and then paves the way to accomplishing our plans. Well penned..! :D
Lots of love,
Sanaa
From the first line, which dives right in unequivocally, I loved this piece - telling it like it is in fresh language, with a philosophical attitude and underlying humour.
ReplyDeleteHate it when the "conceited devil" time plays tricks and
ReplyDelete". . . tolerates lethargy and halcyon day-dreams,
But abruptly draws the curtains on evermore."
And yet each change has brought new adventures, and
Time as devil, as strict master and as watchman has let them carry on! Great personification and images.
Wow, Eileen, you have really said it like it is. Experiencing the passing of time certainly is not for sissies! Wrinkles, gray hair, aches and pains. I guess we have to live with them & be thankful for them, considering the alternative. I like the ending, with time keeping watch between generations.
ReplyDeleteI like "this life is merely a pinpoint in universal existence". My thoughts were running along those lines earlier, too,, Eileen. Great write!
ReplyDeleteI'm finding time whipping away lately. I appreciate your poetic take on this most human issue!
ReplyDeleteSorry - one more thought. Maybe poetry slows us down to better keep time. Does that make sense? Good piece - got me thinking.
ReplyDelete'But abruptly draws the curtains on evermore'.
ReplyDelete'Time is an inflexible master, who seeks accuracy,
It sweeps today towards tomorrow without mercy'.
This is written so beautifully, Eileen. Certain lines just stayed with me after I read them.
love the way you've painted Time as a merciless watchman...all our activities seem so trivial to this omnipotent and all engulfing Time...a wonderful read Eileen...
ReplyDeleteYeah time can be a masterful bully, yet only if we let it
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming over to read mine
Much love...
Time can be a conceited devil of a problem,
ReplyDeleteSnatching opportunities and curtailing plans.
The opening lines are there to reveal the disdain one feels for time as a 'snatcher'. Nicely penned Eileen!
Hank
Love when we danced through the whole night, this so captures time and its slow motion on each day we live, loved this.
ReplyDeleteTime is indeed a devil of a problem...and it is true that it seems to speed up the more gray hairs we acquire and yet perhaps your last line suggests that it is a constant...maybe there is a comfort in that..
ReplyDeletesuch a journey through the hour glass
ReplyDeleteI can relate to all your lines. I especially resonate with those alarms that go off on my creaky joints. But I'm glad I'm alive and dwell on good memories. Hope you too.
ReplyDelete'It sweeps today towards tomorrow without mercy' - doesn't it just!
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully expressed, dear. The poem was so picturesque...I could clearly see how time keeps watch as we move between generations :)
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Eileen... It is a devil of a thing, time. And we have to catch it, tame it, and try to master it. And we think we have succeeded, our time is over and the devil keeps on doing his devilry. Nice one!
ReplyDelete