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..

[-Scribe in Style-]

I like your poem.
The idea that everyone seems they are worse of than ourselves and somehow that helps us get through. We can learn new things from them that help us become better. We are all individuals who help each other. Though the grass seems greener else where, we are sure to get the best!

Well done. Nicely written.

[kaylynnmelody♥]

Spoken beautifully.. Great!

[J]

i've always believed it ultimately comes down to the heart ~ rich or poor, i've seen righteousness and evil from both quarters. i also believe we value most what we accomplish on our own, for that is truly a character-building achievement. your poem bears out, in lovely rhyme, the truth of what is truly worthwhile in this life.

nicely done! ;)

[Norma M Sutton]

Nicely said.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Excellent write! I feel we all can relate to this poem because of the way the world has become. People losing jobs, and jobs are hard to get!

[Derek S.Keck]

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

Well put my friend and I've only found that the world is filled with asleep and awake people, people who only see with there own eyes and people who see things for what they simply are. The less materialistic a person the less crap they have to clutter up their lives with things that make people vain, egotistical and arrogant. Humble and good people come to realize first the big cosmic joke, that it doesn't matter what you do with your life or how much money you made. The fact is we live and we die. And if we had some measure of happiness in between, then we’ve succeeded.

[Sunni Davis]

I've been through my share of sorrows and I've met many people who've had their share of dark times. And I agree with your theory, most of them were not rich with money but they were rich with life. I love the message, the pure truth you've delivered in this poem. Its terrific,Tate.

[Francesca]

This poem is fantastic, and it really gives hope for honest, working men. It's truthful and has beautiful words. It flowed very smoothly. Love it!

[An owl on the moon]

Wish we could learn to prize those things of depth that are truly of value.. those things that last and make for better neighbours.. Thank you for this profoundly moving work.