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An Ode to time

Time

Time is elusive, how would you define
That which is intangible, unheard, unsigned
It cannot be stopped, it will not be slowed down
Measure it we may, but heedless to bound

Time crashes on, like a raging tide
Undiminished by man along for the ride

Some try to waste it, others to kill it
Wise men redeem it, fools try to still it
The Old recognize Time’s fearful rage
Young wish to contain it with porous cage

Time marches on, like a soldier brave
Unwounded by men who eternity crave

Time turns an infant into a child
A child becomes a boy, reckless and wild
Boy will be man and man will be old
Then comes the death-dew merciless cold

Time races on like an athlete in field
Unfettered by man who to it must yield

Birth, life, death, sorrow, Time sees them all
‘You can not stop me!’ its harrowing call
Chase it you may, but soon you will fail
Vanishing, nimble, it hides in its veil

Time soars intently, like an eagle with prey
Unchallenged by men, by night or by day

Then comes a man, appears on the stage
Of history’s scene, humble and brave
‘Time, you will yield, but not by my might,
By the cross I’ll appease Time’s vicious bite’

Time slows down gently to see who does yell
‘My Creator, I hear you, and thus will dispel’

‘Man shall be free, from the anguish of time
Time will give way to grace so sublime
Eternity with Him, free from their hearts
For there I have set it, it never departs’

Time bows with submission content with a smile
Thank you my Master, might I rest for awhile?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Love it...... more of these please!
September 11, 2007 at 9:04 PM
Professor D2 said…
Wow! The last couple of stanzas really caught me off guard... in a good way.

At first I thought you were going a little emo on me, Rick :)
September 12, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Rick said…
Thanks for the comments boys. It struck me that time like an invincible soldier, athlete, etc. is absolutely unstoppable...until Christ who created him stops him (or promises to one day do so). This is contrary to Albert Schweitzer who once wrote about how Jesus simply throws himself at the 'wheel' of time and gets crushed: “...after that comes Jesus, and in the knowledge that He is the coming Son of Man lays hold of the wheel of the world to set it moving on that last revolution which to bring all ordinary history to a close. It refuses to turn, and He throws Himself upon it. Then it does turn; and crushes Him. Instead of bringing in the eschatological conditions, He has destroyed them. The wheel rolls onward, and the mangled body of the one immeasurably great Man, who was strong enough to think of Himself as the spiritual ruler of mankind and to bend history to His purpose, is hanging upon it still. That is His victory and His reign.” Though Schweitzer is a bit vague so I'm not so sure what he is saying.
September 13, 2007 at 4:44 PM
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