Steady heartbeat in the bright late morning light.Chimes bring awareness like a meditation bell:
wake up, wake up.
Reliable hands move, point,
sooth my tedious mind,
mark my course on life's time line as firmly as a stick of charcoal.
On lonely days this grandmother wraps me in her shawl and hums.
Without man's infernal measuring device
what would we have?
Infinity.
Photo courtesy of Willow and Magpie Tales. Read more prose and poetry using this photo as a prompt here.
Click to hear me read my poem. Recording done via my digital camera video selection. This is not intended as a video. Just an audio. I aimed the camera out the window.
It's interesting to contemplate what we would do without mechanical time-pieces. Would we be more relaxed, living to the rhythm of the planets?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing as Janice@jabblog, but hadn't put it into words yet. All I had done was copy the last lines, to paste them here because I like them:
ReplyDelete"Without man's infernal measuring device
what would we have?
Infinity."
I see "infinity" as peace, although I can't say why. Beautifully done, Suki.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Janice and Kay, I spent an entire year not using clocks. I unplugged them and didnt wear a watch which I still dont do. I worked inside the home so didnt have to be up and out on a scheduel. It gave me a good sense of my inner rhythms. Of course when I had outside the home appointments I had to cheat a bit and look and set a timer for the time I had to leave.
ReplyDeleteWhen I finished with work, I took my watch off, vowing never to wear it again. So far, so good.
ReplyDeletePerhaps infinity would be more enjoyable?
ReplyDeleteChimes bring awareness like a meditation bell .. I like.
ReplyDeleteI love it, love it. Superb poetry, imo, and I agree with the sentiments expressed. My only watch - which I seldom wear but (used to) read the time of incessantly - recently gave up the ghost, and I decided to see what would happen if I didn't replace it.
ReplyDeleteWithout man's infernal measuring device
what would we have?
Infinity.
Yes. Are we ready for it?
I love that line "Without Man's infernal measuring device... A question I am trying to answer in my current short story. Lovely.
ReplyDeletewonderfully profound I would enjoy some of that infinity right about now!
ReplyDeleteNice! I like the line about the grandmother, hugging and humming.
ReplyDeleteKeeps us on course, those timepieces. Well put.
ReplyDelete'bright late morning light' ... I see it too.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, the conclusion is quite stirring. I fine question to live today - - -
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Read my Magpie here.
Meditation bell - yes! This lovely piece is enhanced by the ability to hear you read your words! Brava!
ReplyDeleteoh wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI think we'd all still wonder what time it was ...
ReplyDeletewell done :)
I would probably be sidetracked continuously searching for a clue of what time it be... LOL - although it's interesting when the watch breaks how many times I check without realizing!
ReplyDelete"mark my course on life's time line as firmly as a stick of charcoal" - I like this, and I love the ending!
ReplyDeleteI love clocks though because without them, I am lost.
love the ending,
ReplyDeleteinfinity is the conclusion,
enjoyed your crispy and well fine tuned poetry.
keep sharing.
love your story telling skills.
ReplyDeletekeep it up.
I am your follower, welcome follow us back.
hope to see you at our week 11 potluck tonight,
any poems are welcome, we are open Sunday 8pm, remain open for 60 hours.
linking in early would get your work the best possible feedback.
have fun!
cheers.
Suki, this is beautiful...my favorite "time piece" is the sun...rising and setting...it reminds me to wake up, like the meditation chime to greet the day and when it sets, I settle in and begin to unwind from the "time" based commitments of the day.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a gifted writer!
Loved both your words and your reading of them. Man's measuring device ....I go without a watch as much as possible, I really hate running to time, always having to check.
ReplyDelete