Sands of Time

Winner of the Bronze medal in the NY Literary magazine https://nyliterarymagazine.com/contests-for-poets-and-writers/winners-of-the-ny-literary-magazines-august-2016-poetry-contest/

We meet many men of sorrow

so much deeper than our own pain

Wisdom and strength they all borrow

washed by waters of life's own rain

Each of us ponders life's reason

looking deep within our own soul

We follow each path and season

that vainly we seek to control

The sands they burn up like cinder

that has trickled our fingers through

Each hope, our time does now hinder

what wasn't, we find is now true

Chase not the rung of the ladder

that will place you above the rest

When alone what will it matter

if a loveless life, you attest

So small the pain of his distress

whose earnings don't tell of his worth

An honest man, this life will bless

no matter his fortunes at birth

 

Author's Note

I meant this to be an endearing piece to honor the struggles of life. It has been an observation of my own life that the men I valued most seemed to own the least. This is so true that I cannot deny it. I imagine it was true life struggles that gave to them their great nature. I simply wish to shine the light upon our own misguided ways. The worship of the almighty dollar has never tucked a child into bed. Nor held the hand of a grieving woman. Money cannot buy love. Nor can it manufacture it. The reason the son of a rich man can wreck a 50,000 dollar car and think nothing of it is simple. To him that is what his father was willing to pay to placate the son. In the mind of the child the car is what the father is giving him to replace the time he doesn't have for him. So since the child's life is not important to the father neither is the car valued by the son.

Reviews

[AprilRN1210]

I love the messages in this piece... Life isn't about how much money you make, how many things you achieve, it is about the relationships you have made, the lives you have touched.... We struggle through life, searching for meaning, for answers, for worth, yet never realize that it is in that struggle an the lives we touch that shows our worth... it is priceless, and should treasured.. take the time to share and learn the wisdom with others, cherish loved ones, and enjoy the simple things.. The sands of time will pass you by in a heartbeat if you do not take advantage of those hidden opportunities to learn, grow, appreciate life and pass this precious gift on to others... As always I love your work.. this is one of my favorites..

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Time is our most prized possession as it cannot be replaced and runs out like an hour glass.As I tell my son "Tate the value of a man is not held by what he owns but lies in what he gives to others."

[AprilRN1210]

exactly.. couldn't agree more:)
you're more than welcome.. always enjoy your work..

[Howard Faulkner]

Such a beautiful and fitting poem!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Howard

[Paul Bell]

Great poem, tells it straight. I sort of feel sorry for kids today. My own youth would be spent making things, bikes, carts. Money was never important. Certainly doesn't replace family and friends.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you paul Same here i remember making go carts and scrounging briggs and stratton s from the junk yard to power them

[LonelySoul]

i find it refreshing to learn our future by remembering our past... Well done

[Tate Morgan]

Hey havent heard from you in a long time Thank you Hope all is well

[wordman]

but life is sweet when you work hard for what you have,and the way you raise your family
traditions are carried forward .an honest man means a lot

[Tate Morgan]

I so agree Ron I look in the mirror and see a happy face Life is short be good it hurts less Thank you

[emmy bon]

Great write sire

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you so much Emmy

[DoormanDan]

Tate, I haven't read any of your writing in a long time (for that I apologize), but I was immediately reminded of how good your work is as I started reading this wonderful piece. The flow of this poem is amazing, not a syllable too many, and as is per usual with many of your pieces, it has a sense of profoundness to it that I can only wish my own work possessed. From personal experience, I feel that many writers can sometimes lose their touch overtime (especially if they have been writing for long enough), but if that has happened to you with any of your work on this site, I have yet to see it. Keep up the fantastic work!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Dan that profoundly humbles me "smiles" much appreciated

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Tate, I just reread this work and "So small the pain of his distress
whose earnings don't tell of his worth" this line stuck out to me again and also this one "An honest man, this life will bless
no matter his fortunes at birth"...I am glad that I decided to look at it again..Have a wonderful day..Sara

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Sara I am quite humbled

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

You are quite welcome..Sara

[Jamestown]

Your pen has a gift to get through, always enjoy reading your work.
Another fantastic piece of work my friend, thanks for sharing and b-blessed!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Jamestown always a pleasure to see and hear from
You

[B]

Very wise

When alone what will it matter
if a loveless life, you attest

Such a wise poem

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you i just got home. I will take a look at yours as well

[B]

Thank you :)