What is it?
This thing we call time…
There really isn’t a good definition of it…
Probably the most widely accepted one is
“The period during which something occurs”
But when you analyze that,
It really doesn’t say much
Because the word, period
Suggests the word time
And you’re right back to where you started.
A period is a time
And vice versa
Anyway, whatever it is
Man has devised a thousand ways
To measure it…
And those devices are our masters
We live by them
Whether we like it or not
And they are everywhere
In every shape, design and disguise..
But make no mistake about it,
They are not on our side.
Some of them are beautiful…
But they are devious,
And even though many of them are guaranteed
Accurate to a fraction of a second
All you have in the way of proof
Is the word of another device.
And the whole thing
Might be a conspiracy.
If you watch them closely,
You’ll find they act
Pretty much as they please,
Depending on the situation.
They ring or buzz
Or clang you out of bed in the morning
Then run at breakneck speed
Til you’re late to work.
Then for the next eight hours
They dilly dally
Snooze frequently and run only
When you look at them.
Then when the elongated work day is over,
They run like a bandit to catch up,
Throwing you late for dinner.
And we serve these masters
Without question,
When all the while
They are measuring
The thing that makes us grow old.
And maybe that’s the best definition
Of time.
Time is growing old…
And if you don’t agree with that definition,
Then you’re probably somewhere on
The lighter side of forty,
In which case, you can’t speak
With any degree of authority on the subject.
~ Jim Metcalf ~
“Follow Another Star”
