Like sands in an hourglass

A poem on time.

Like candles in the dark

Like sands in an hourglass

I push myself to embark

On a journey to surpass

What I was the day before

What I was a lifetime ago

Yet I rest and ignore

The fire inside; desperate to grow

Instead I gaze at the sea, and sin

A constant wonder of what could be

Or what could have been

Wishing I knew the key for me

To feel as though it wasn’t all for naught

To feel as though I’ve made the most

Of precious moments I have caught

And know that I was truly engrossed

Before too long that candle will lose its light

And before too long, the sand will cease

Did I use it well? Did I use it with all my might?

Or did I let it decay? Will I ever know peace?

It’s hard to say while the candle still burns

And it’s hard to see if I’ve used time effectively

I just feel I haven’t done enough to earn

A life of happiness, of serenity; truly being free

--

I’ve been trying to get myself involved more in the poetry community and I have been fortunate enough to be included in some. For the month of July, we had a poetry prompt: time. This poem illustrates my struggles with making the most of just that. I’ve always had a lot of passion and enthusiasm for things I’m interested in, and yet time slips away. Things get in the way of what I want or feel I need to accomplish. I have no one to blame but myself.

As I’ve mentioned and expressed in other poems on the site, I feel there are so many different directions one can take in life, it’s almost debilitating. What is the right path? How do I use my time most effectively?

Some days I wake up incredibly enthusiastic, ready to conquer the day. Then, there’s other days where I don’t want to leave my bed, and I simply want to do nothing. I’ve been better with not judging myself too harshly, or comparing myself to others, but it can be difficult not to. You always hear the expression, it’s the journey not the destination. I think there’s a lot of truth in that, but at the same time, if you don’t accomplish the things you embark on, then you’re stuck in a sort of limbo. I’ve been notorious for starting things and not finishing. I know that is not the right way to be.

So, I’ve made a conscious effort to not be like that. Even if it’s just a movie or TV show. If I start it, I need to finish it. Of course, I do believe everything will work out the way it’s supposed to, but there have certainly been many bumps in the road that have made me question that.

Nevertheless, if anything, I hope this is relevant for people who read this. Know that you’re not alone in trying to figure out your path, and what your purpose is in life.

-JTC