Ephemeral Quaff

 

This ephemeral quaff

Of moments keens a thirst

For the Intangible, aloft

Like thought’s unwritten verse

A madrigal of want

In spite of work and prayer

Rouses within a hellish taunt

Of venomous despair

Desire cannot change

The free-fall of an hour

And none of us can rearrange

A clock’s incessant pow’r

…and who of us can boast

A lump-sum afternoon?

Tick-tock, tick-tock, Time’s uttermost

Is forged in moment-swoon

…and ever as we gulp

We drain its ether bowl

Until the final Curtain-call

That strips body from soul

Fear-stunned, yet fearless I

Beseech Mercy’s veiled face

Faith is not feckless frippery

But trusting God for grace

© Janet Martin