Through a Glass, Grainily

A Magpie Tale

Grains of time 

descend incessantly, settling on hair, weighing down eyelids,

sticking to toes, stuffing a nose, accumulating like unopened

 mail on any level surface.  I try to sweep, scrub time away.

It simply slides to another corner, lurking, obscuring the

important, filling pockets with hurry, worry,

slyly hiding purse, keys, documents,

things we need right

 now!

I

wish

I could

gather time in baskets

take it outside, moisten it with tears

mold a time castle, paper it with memories,

drape it with dreams, define sufficient space

to savor life's salty sweetness, served on good china,

wipe it dripping from your chin with silken kindness

 to amble at a toddler's pace, or scamper, skip for joy

to read collected works in quiet corners, inhale lilacs' incense

to watch the cloudscape drift with wondering open eyes

curl new tiny fingers, comb silver hairs until time blows away,

dissolves, and we are left to flourish in vast eternity