The Trouble Is...Time

 Poetics Aside Prompt: The Trouble Is...

There are endless life-rituals to perform

But today, when I studied you

Suddenly, my heart turned achy-sweet warm

And in that instant I knew

That no matter what pushes to the fore-front

Clamoring for attention

I must stop and really look at you

I must stop and really listen

Because no matter how often they tell us

That life is short and time flies

It is easy to get all caught up

In materialistic little lies

And before you know it, another day

Dissolves in the molten west

And most of what we have accomplished

Follows in its steps

Because the trouble is, excuses never excuse

They never exonerate the past

We all are given twenty-four hours to use

Before its shadow is cast

And the best that we can hope for

Is God’s gracious second chance

Another day to hope and pray

To laugh and love and dance

And trust that in its music and muddle

We leave a kind legacy

Because Time is a perpetual trickle

And does not wait for you or me

But slips to the eternal bygone

A flicker, a whisper, a gasp

So stop, really look and listen

Before present-gifts slip from our clasp

© Janet Martin