From inside tortured gut.
Taut and pressed, rebut.
Time passes time passes time passes time passes
time passes time passes time passes
and nothing changes
until something changes
until someone changes.
Did you turn the light off?
Did you burn the candle at both ends?
Did you remember your father and your mother in your prayers?
Remember that time passes, time changes, time alters,
but doesn't actually do any of those things.
We change, we alter, you change, you alter
she, they, we, me, I I I I change, I alter.
Not time.
Time just moves on regardless.
Regardless of whether you do anything at all.
Regardless of whether you get up.
Time rolls by.
Time waits for nothing. No thing, person or event.
Time dictates the space we have between the light and the dark,
the morn and the night,
the twilight howls and dawn chorus.
Of course, we know,
we know we can't slow or speed up time.
All we can do is submit to it, accept it,
and work with it, against it, whatever gives you reason and fulfilment.
If there’s one thing—just one—worth remembering.
Don't dim your light for no one.
Don’t shrink or play the saint just so they can feel bigger,
if it means you suffer in the downwind
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: Poem!
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
Reader insights
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Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (13)
Time sucks. Why can't it slow down a bit, yeah. Lol. But that's what gives it the value we often forget. I love the way you wrote this. It felt like a rush of truth with respectful acceptance as to what we can and can't control. The downwind can be sudden and strong, but I hope your light will always be shining, Paul. You're an absolute beaming legend!
I like this one a lot. There's a slowness to it somehow that makes it read longer than it is, in a good way! It embraces the feeling of passing time so well. And I really like the title of it!
This really gave legs to the phrase "time and tide wait for no man". Change and change again, and keep that light burning! Wonderfully wrought, Paul!
I've always been thought to put other before myself. Because it's selfish to do otherwise. It was a little too late when I learned it's not selfish at all. Loved your poem!
This is such a powerful reminder that time rolls on no matter what, but we still have the power in how we show up.
Don’t dim your light for no one - damn you should have entered that into the tattoo challenge. That’s a BRILLIANT line.
It all comes down to how you use the time given to you. Time is your friend if you let it. Good job.
Excellent read… love the repetition and: “ We change, we alter, you change, you alter she, they, we, me, I I I I change, I alter. Not time.”💖 So true!
This struck deep. The rhythm, the repetition, the raw truth about time and change—it all builds to that final, powerful reminder: don’t dim your light. Beautifully done, Paul. ⏳💡
This poem got my OCD going.
This poem runs deep, Paul. Kind of amazing how much we talk and think about time and how little value it really holds. Both emotive and powerful. Truly felt this one!
Did you read my overactive AHDH mind? :D Cos it sounds like what's going on inside my head sometimes lol I love the last line. Best reminder for the day, always choose yourself and never your suffering.
This is incredibly written, Paul! Realistic and grounded, yet beautifully hopeful :)