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Would time have allowed
for us to wallow in the quick sand
of life’s sorrows devoid of luxuries
Would time have denied us the
right of food and shelter instead
and of poverty staring squarely at one
that is lifeless, reeking of sweat and slime
in the basement, home of the down-trodden
to be shared with trash and rodents
Would time have been harsh
to condemn us into the bottomless
abyss of those who had sinned
tired and spent of desire to fulfill?
God forbid!
Time would be gentle to reward
those who offered all goodness of life’s
pleasures and good fortune
commensurate to efforts tirelessly
extended to those unfortunates
of society and unselfishly shared
Time is a great equalizer!
Shared with d'Verse OpenLinkNight week#54 and Poets United's vice-versa #8 with antonyms allow/deny and harsh/gentle as prompts
Shared with d'Verse OpenLinkNight week#54 and Poets United's vice-versa #8 with antonyms allow/deny and harsh/gentle as prompts
Time can be fickle
ReplyDeleteAs out it does trickle
I'll take the later for me
As the rest has no glee
And first at your shore
0-2 today for Brian at each floor
hank, i really love this verse...and esp the stanza of time being gentle...i think we often look at how time goes so quick and often seems to rob us....but i like your verse very much my friend...hope you week is going well...
ReplyDeletegreat write Pare! you bet a lot of true things to realize on these verses.
ReplyDeletePareng JJ
I think that's true...eventually things will equal out. Let's hope sooner than later!
ReplyDeleteI really love this one too. I think time is gentle it's a lot of us humans who aren't. This is one of my most favs of yours Hank. :)
ReplyDeleteI really love this one too. I think time is gentle it's a lot of us humans who aren't. This is one of my most favs of yours Hank. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the positive spin of time in the end...it's a great equalizer, I agree ~
ReplyDeleteHappy day Hank ~
Well, I sure hope time is a great equalizer. I like the hope you infused in this poem. So nice.
ReplyDeleteI too, enjoy the hope in this and this word bump made me happy..."staring squarely," nice!!
ReplyDeletetime has so many textures and characteristics
ReplyDeleteTime is a great equalizer for sure..made me think of michael ende's MOMO with the time thieves..
ReplyDeleteI have never quite looked at time this way - this is a novel idea and well expressed. To find something new is always a pleasure and something to ponder. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMost think of death as the great equalizer, but indeed it is time. For time surpasses even death as it's always moving forward with or without us.
ReplyDelete"The quality of mercy is not strained.
ReplyDeleteIt droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,
Upon the place beneath.
It is twice blessed.
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."
A bit of agreement from the most racist of Shakespeare's plays--just substitute " in for him: It blesseth Time that gives and Time that takes. And despite this, Time may not remove the harshness in time, alas. Great details and question form.
Time waits for no man or so I'm told :) I love this piece!
ReplyDeleteI love this, Hank. :) great !
ReplyDeleteI think you have captured so vividly the role that time plays in bringing us to awareness of who we are and can become. There's so much strength and courage in your verses. I find them very hopeful and loving.
ReplyDeleteTime is a great equalizer!
ReplyDeleteVery true!..Beautiful poem :)
I appreciate your fresh perspective, gave me something to think about!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, time is a great equalizer. I enjoyed your perspective and participation in Vice/Versa.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the best parts of the poem are the subtle structure you use for emphasis - the insistent "would time", the internal rhymes in each verse - shows how the poetic sensibility can be instinctive.
ReplyDelete