a consideration of time on the last day of the year

But all the clocks in the city
Began to whirr and chime:
‘O let not Time deceive you,
You cannot conquer Time.

‘In the burrows of the Nightmare
Where Justice naked is,
Time watches from the shadow
And coughs when you would kiss.

‘In headaches and in worry
Vaguely life leaks away,
And Time will have his fancy
To-morrow or to-day. (…)

‘O look, look in the mirror?
O look in your distress:
Life remains a blessing
Although you cannot bless.

‘O stand, stand at the window
As the tears scald and start;
You shall love your crooked neighbour
With your crooked heart.’

– as i walked out one evening, w. h. auden (1907-1973)

December 31, 2002 – 3:47 pm | By Thomas | Posted in Observations | Comments (1)
  • Amanda

    The clock of life is wound but once,
    And no man has the power
    To tell just when the hands will stop
    At late or early hour.

    To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed,
    To lose one’s health is more,
    To lose one’s soul is such a loss
    That no man can restore.

    The present only is our own,
    So live, love, toil with a will,
    Place no faith in “Tomorrow,”
    For the Clock may then be still.

    My grandfather had this hanging on his wall. Uplifting, isn’t it? When I moved in here, there were thirteen clocks in this house. As it turns out, the above verse is by Robert Smith. No, not that Robert Smith.

    And it’s time time time that you love…