Poetry, Theme Prompt, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Time Keeps on Slipping

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

At Great Minds Think Friday Challenge,
Sarah & Rohini ask ‘What would you do
with a magical stopwatch?’ It can be
sped up, slowed down, or even paused.
One caveat … it cannot be stopped.

Image by Me & Perplexity

A droplet gleaming, cool in the palm,
its crown a temptation disguised in calm;
press once and the sparrow hangs mid-flight,
the world holds still in ambient light.

Press twice and the hours blur and race,
a week devoured in no time’s space;
the wise man slows a dying day,
the fool burns years like morning hay.

In careful hands it buys a breath,
a pause before the surgeon’s test.
A slow-drawn hour with those we love ….
a gift no shop has dared dreamed of.

But greed will wind the mainspring tight,
chase fortunes fast through sleepless night,
and find at last, with shaking hand,
that time used poorly still runs sand.

NAR©2026

This is “Piledriver Waltz” by Arctic Monkeys

Time Master/Mistress: Friday Challenge

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

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