Ode to Time

Ode to Time

Earth orbit around-the-clock—time works 24-hour days.

Seasons spin timetables—no rewinds or instant replays.

Whistling calliope conducts circles on a merry-go-round,

melodious rhythm chases brass ring—time lost or found.

Time is marching on in shimmering sun or silvery moon.

Turn sandy hourglass, tiny timeworn grit—devious dune.

Timeless ocean’s beach—seashell treasure on seashore,

moon phases, steering by Luna goddess—hear her roar.

“If I could turn back time”—Cher’s abracadabra song spell.

In dreams I glide to relive pastimes—allusive ticktock bell.

Hands of time open clock doors—cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo.

Time: speedy when late or slow while stumbling. Voodoo?

This harvest moon, looking back at accelerated seasons,

errors made with regrets—life lessons were the reasons.

I ask myself, “Where did time go?” now that I am retired,

born December 1945, no time date on my foot—“expired.”

The months have rushed past, like flipping calendar pages,

Father Time knows the fight next season—as winter rages.

A lot to do until his work is through—hickory, dickory, doc.

Work done, he gives New Year Baby, a sands of time clock.

April Ryan has given Sharing Stories many stories and poems. Thank goodness her foot has NOT expired! The painting of an heirloom clock was done by Ariele's mother when she was in college. The clock was carried across the country wrapped in a quilt on Sarah Wilson's lap. Sarah was Ariele's great grandmother.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

SHARING STORIES is featured on www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type "sharing stories" in the search function above.