Exploring the Paradox of Time: A Poet's Struggle
Written on
Chapter 1: The Elusive Nature of Time
Finding moments to pen this poem has been a true lesson in patience.
They often claim that time continues its relentless march.
But what exactly is it marching on?
On feet?
I've come across depictions of Father Time,
Dressed in sandals —
Hardly the right shoes for racing
Against the clock.
Vague adverbs characterize this
Invisible force that governs my existence —
Early, later, soon, fleeting,
Now, then, hourly, minutely,
Daily, monthly, grumpily.
Like when the receptionist announces,
“The doctor will see you shortly.”
How long is that, really?
Do swallows coordinate their
Feathered departures?
“We'll take off at 0500 UTC on
Monday, May 15 — be ready to join us,
Don’t be tardy or you’ll miss the flight!”
Or do the trees conspire to stagger their blooms
Before and after the spring equinox noted on a
Gregorian calendar as the grand unveiling day for blossoms —
And not to reveal themselves all at once?
I find myself imprisoned by time.
This concept eludes my senses
Yet looms large in my reality,
As I rush toward the finish line,
Frustration bubbling,
Exploding into anger
As the lights dim
Once more.
And no one knows when
They’ll return.
Today, tomorrow —
Next week?
Time drags its feet,
While I squirm in my chair,
Observing the batteries dwindle
On my laptop, router, and phone.
I feel isolated.
Unable to connect,
Only reflecting on my disappointment
As deadlines approach
In this unbearable darkness.
They say time flies
When you’re enjoying yourself,
But I’m not experiencing any joy,
Fidgeting,
With a perplexed mind shutting down
Behind my scowl.
Waiting…waiting…waiting…
I’m stuck in a loop with Time.
Backstory
I took a break on Sunday, ready to write on Monday, but the power outage persisted until Tuesday afternoon.
Delighted, I began crafting this poem and catching up on outstanding tasks, hoping to finalize my submission for the PW November theme of Time (proudly introduced by ADEOLA SHEEHY-ADEKALE) by Wednesday.
However, another breakdown struck at nine o’clock Wednesday, making me halt. How many hours would we be without power?
We lost electricity at 2 AM this morning, regained it around noon, and as I type this at 3 PM, it's gone once more.
It’s not merely a lack of time — I’m running low on battery power! I’ll persevere with a weak internet connection, striving to meet the November 30 deadline.
Thank you for your presence, even if I may vanish for a while.
Chapter 2: The Monthly Theme for November 2023
Welcome to your go-to source for inspiration!
Explore the ten different types of nouns in this engaging lesson on English grammar.
A fun and informative video for kids explaining the differences between common and proper nouns.