Carnage

Time

Time slithers effortlessly along,
mauling victims and
leaving them in its wake.

Trust and blind faith are mutilated--
devolving into
suspicion, cynicism, and despair.

Innocence and naïveté give way
to lesser virtues,
bringing with them guilt and remorse.

Strong, agile bodies succumb to
Time’s wicked march,
yielding weak, uncooperative joints.

Flawless beauty is forced to
relinquish itself to
wrinkles and age spots.

Still, Time creeps onward,
continuing its journey of
thievery until the end.

It laughs at our infirmities,
victorious in its quest to
leave us with nothing.

Or so it thinks. . .
for wisdom and understanding
are there for the taking.

The tides of Time roll in,
forever changing
those in its path.


Pat Nelson
December 3, 2008