of time flowing past them, through them, slipping by,
or do they cradle and bless like a riverbed?
I have asked them, held in my hand
like branched nests whose natural progress is startled
by my rude curiosity.
You--are you a kind of clock?
At times you define me to myself, but in the next moment
one of us has moved on, like pouched time, a hoarded secret.
I wonder--shall I join these resentful clocks,
ticking off quantified complaints ad infinitum?
Or is it better that I dissolve, like the sugar of a moment
In a hot mug that warms my hands, but only in this instant?
_________
for Fireblossom Friday: Ask Question.
I adore the last four lines --- Yes, dissolving like sugar is so much better.
ReplyDeleteThis is my very favorite part:
"I wonder--shall I join these resentful clocks,
ticking off quantified complaints ad infinitum?"
Awesome.
Oh WOW!!!! "Pouched time" and being the sugar of a moment, warm but only in this instant. I don't know how you do it. You think things that never were, and make me see them. This is rather brilliant.
ReplyDeleteFull of juice, Shay, and also delicate, almost ethereal.You are the mistress of large and small metaphors here, each one chiming perfectly with your theme, and the conversational tone of self to self is perfect for the narrative voice you've chosen to delineate your point(s) Stellar.
ReplyDeleteWonderful. Clocks. Everything Hedge said. And both of us being retired now, we ponder the unscheduled moments so much more than we ever did the scheduled moments. Your metaphors ring true as the dissolving sugar.
ReplyDeleteResentful clocks, rude curiosity and dissolving ’like the sugar of a moment In a hot mug’ – love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful poem!! I loved it..."shall I join these resentful clocks"..., "or is it better that I dissolve, like the sugar of a moment"!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful expression of time... I've questioned it with why, but never as eloquently as this. My poem doesn't rank with this one. You have such a gift.
ReplyDeleteSo creative!
ReplyDeleteSong is on my top 100 50 for sure. I love your wordplay
ReplyDelete"shall I join these resentful clocks" For sure you (the writer) don't run down, the both of you should stay wound tightly and regularly. Thanks for the prompt, you did well, clever, brilliant writing.
ReplyDelete..
What Hedge and the others said.
ReplyDeleteor maybe as Chrissie Hynde opines, time the avenger ~
I gave up wearing a watch about 2 years ago.. and never looked back. But I am distinctly conscious of time nonetheless. Nothing worse for me than an empty hour. Your first question sums up my ambivalence perfectly.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, Shay. I love "cradle and bless like a riverbed" and the entire second stanza is just stellar..
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThese are the most gorgeous lines (in my opinion, of course):
"... or do they cradle and bless like a riverbed?"
"...like branched nests..."
"At times you define me to myself, but in the next moment
one of us has moved on, like pouched time, a hoarded secret."
"Or is it better that I dissolve, like the sugar of a moment
In a hot mug that warms my hands, but only in this instant?"
I also love (and am fascinated by) your line breaks.
Especially terrific close. k.
ReplyDeleteResentful clocks, and dissolving sugar of the moment - unique piece of writing, Shay!
ReplyDeleteThis is simply amazing Shay! I feel anything I say now is insignificant. Your words bring forth a need to hold them for a while in silence and not let go.
ReplyDelete