Creative Writing

The Hourglass of Life

Lisa43 Comments
Greeting Card Valentine 1899
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Craptastic poetry time again. Here is my second poem for http://magpietales.blogspot.com . What happened to last week’s  offering? The dang thing became a story and didn’t get it finished in time. It was kinda lame anywho, filled with melodrama and ‘archetypal characters.’ I wrote a crappy story in college with the  “archetypal characters ,blah, blah…..story told over and over…blech, blech….but good pacing” written on it. This story would’ve got a similar review, but I’ll drag it out someday when finished (sadly, my college one has been lost, but it was bad).   I also did poetry and had to learn to stop writing greeting card stuff.  This poem ain’t greeting card material unless Hallmark wants to open a  “Go On and Die Already” division.  

 

                                          Depressing much?                                                                                                                                     

   

The Hourglass of Life 

   

Into the world a baby comes, 

The Hourglass of Life is set. 

A game of chance has just begun, 

a time for Fate to place her bet. 

   

The baby is kept safe, 

only a few grains  of sand are suffered to drop. 

Lucky as some hearts  flutter and others stop.   

   

From baby to toddler, from toddler to child, 

the sands flow gently, death decides not to attack the mild. 

Life is safe, the sands won’t stop 

for the foolish teen becoming an adult. 

   

For the adult waiting for old age, 

the hourglass is now sitting on a stage, 

the sand is speeding up, 

 but not the adult. 

   

The end looms ahead.  

The last grain seeps through 

while the old heart stops ,  

for another the process  begins anew. 

43 thoughts on “The Hourglass of Life”

  2. laffin @ a “go on and die already” division of Hallmark.

    Thank you for your visit and comment. You might be interested to know that the person in my poem had….you guessed it, OCD. Truth.

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  12. Lisa,

    First of all, I wanted to thank you for your kind comments elsewhere. Thank you so very much. I would have replied there but I promised that I would not comment or reply, again, as you read.

    Second, I liked your poem. Don’t let the “archetypal characters” criticism get to you. If you’ve read any of the commentary about the “Star Wars” movies, they’re all about the archetypal “hero’s journey”. And there’s a wonderful book — really, really sad, but wonderful — called “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” which was an Oprah’s book club selection. I don’t think I’m going to spoil it for you by saying that it’s based on “Hamlet” because it’s simply amazing. Mostly, it’s about a boy named Edgar, his dog, Amandine, and the dogs that his family raises. I think that there’s an old truism that there are only 10 — I think — stories but it’s the creativity of the writer that makes them new. And for a sometimes hilarious take on storytelling, read “The Decameron” which was written at the height of the black plague ravaging Europe. Doesn’t sound like a laugh riot but some of the stories… well, you’ll see.

    I, also, was an easy target for people taking advantage of my kindness and concern. I finally learned to disassociate myself somewhat — still working on it — from letting someone else’s troubles upset me after a phone call from a friend at my job. I had been having a great day at a job I enjoyed. After I got off the phone, I was miserable and outraged at the injustice that my friend had felt they had been subjected to by another friend. I was just all “Grrr” and “That SOB” and on and on. Finally, as if I was gobsmacked, it hit me that THESE WEREN’T MY PROBLEMS. Not only that but that there was NOTHING that I could do about them. I was trying to figure out how to get control of a situation that I could not possibly have any control over and that I wasn’t involved in. Pretty sad, huh? It was like I’d become a psychic dumping ground for other people’s troubles. The best thing that I could do was to listen, maybe offer some advice and then let it go out of my life.

    I was also a people pleaser because I wanted so much to be liked. And most of all, I hated any sign of contention. Even if it didn’t involve me. I always wanted everyone to make nice. Sometimes, that’s not possible, although I do remind people on Twitter to try to be civil, at least that. If there are people who play the game, “Let’s you and him fight”, I was the one who was always trying to get people to play “Let’s you and him make peace”. And then sometimes, they BOTH got angry at ME. LOL As for standing up for myself, I still have to untie the knot in my stomach and remember to breathe when I have to do it. But you’ve got to remember that you have at least as much right to your opinions and your space in this world as anyone else. @Lotay says that he is not better than anyone else. Remember, that NO ONE should make you feel less than. If you’re internal bulldog is barking that at you, tell it to go muzzle itself. 😉

    Again, thank you, thank you, for standing up for me. I know how hard it must have been for you, especially considering the venue. I’m sorry if I’ve gone on too long. My writing teacher told me to read Hemingway and write shorter sentences. LOL And you were right in what you said… it really hurt. Your standing up for me was like giving me a hug. I really needed it. 🙂

    Blessings.

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    • Next time I’m at the library I will try. You’re a wonderful person and I hope you will come again. My crowd aren’t bullies and I bet you’ll love them too.
      Ps, I believe you will also love my dear friend’s writing. It’s a self-help blog using Buddhist-style wisdom. alwayswell.wordpress.com

      You’re always welcome here!

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    • The Disinheritance Collection by Hallmark.

      Don’t think you’re getting from me a cent,
      NOT a blood red cent!
      Not my home, or even my comb.
      I’ll turn in my grave before anything I’ve ever saved
      Graces your clammy palms.
      I’ve struck you from my will,
      from my life,
      from everything I hold dear.
      Love Dad

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  18. Dear Lisa: Excellent observations and poetic line of questioning in regards to the confounding constrasts life presents. Really enjoyed;

    “the hourglass is now sitting on a stage,

    the sand is speeding up,

    but not the adult”

    Very Shakespearean in scope and quest! “All the world’s a stage…” from “As You Like It”…personally, I LOVE it! Your poetry is FINE!

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    • Bless you and thank you, Jane. Sorry it took so long to reply . Was sick for a bit but now I’m fine. To be compared with Shakespeare is an honor indeed.

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  19. I liked your poem very much and want to encourage you to write more. I find your self honesty to be very appealing. As Sandra points out life is a precious gift and we recognize that only when we are aware of impermanence. For me this revelation took place when I had cancer, and was brought to the forefront again when I was in an accident. I sincerely hope that no one else ever has to experience such traumatic events to become aware of the impermanence that you describe so well in your poem.
    Love,
    TiTi

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  21. I’m Glad you are writting for Magpie. The other day I was thinking of you doing a Book with a Pink Cover, called OCDBlogger.( or your ful blog name) Really I thnk you have lot to say and what you say you do in a very eloqent and relateable way. Just my thoughts. Hope your feeling better soon and up to full energy shortly.

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    • I may have to do that, come out with best of the year stuff, maybe an e-book, but I’d want to wait until March when I started my blog, so it’s literally been a year. Great idea, thanks!

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