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Friday 12 August 2011

Time Was Away


I read a novel
in which the end of the world
came long before
the end of the book.

Similarly,
a dream I had
pre-dated
the Big Bang

A colleague told me
he had memories
of being in the womb -
but not of leaving it
or getting there!

The same colleague
has deja vu moments
all the time. He claims
his whole life
is one long reprise -
played backwards.

Our infant son
would move
the clock's hands on
to bring his mum
home sooner.
(It seemed to work!)

17 comments:

Eileen T O'Neill ..... said...

Dave,

This is just wonderful. The whole concept of 'time management' has always fascinated me.
I truly wish I could regress back to some other selected times in my life!!!
I love this poem!

Eileen

Carl said...

Wonderful the elusive nature of time and our ' reality'

Jinksy said...

Time hit me too, in my latest post- I was looking back to the beginning of it, I think. It is a strange concept to ponder at the best of times...
I like the idea of moving clock hands backwards, rather than forwards...

Jim Murdoch said...

Enjoyed this but I always have enjoyed aphorisms or aphoristic poems. You might find this article on Three Types of Déjà Vu of interest. The first stanza is a greater opener BTW.

Bagman and Butler said...

I like this one very much - it moves time around for me and my mind feels good trying tow wrap around it.

Victoria said...

Enjoyed this a lot--how you mess with the concept of time. The whole idea of alternate dimensions is fascinating, but the thought of life being a reprise played backwards is a bit chilling unless you get to change some of the decisions you made!

Mishilicious Mishi said...

that was too good Dave ..Em not good with words in this way so Ii always inspires me to read those who can twist them and bring them in an adorable shape of piece of poetry..great job..loved the concept:-)

Gerry Snape said...

I love the thought that if I move the clock hands back or forward I can influence time!! Lets all do it!
Clever child.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Time eh Dave - seems it is all in the mind. I always suspected as much.

Hannah Stephenson said...

The last stanza is my favorite--so sweet, and it makes the whole poem so personal at the end.

Windsmoke. said...

Time travel is good whether you go fowards or backwards in time as long as you don't try to alter time itself you never know what might happen :-).

Dave King said...

Eileen
Thank you so much for this encouragement. I, too, have a long-held fascination for the subject, not least for what seems to me its subjectivity. In my teaching days I used to wish it possible to leave college and be employed as a headteacher, then spend your career working your way back to class teacher. It seemed to me that it would hold great benefits for school, pupils and the teacher.

Carl
The net of language has too coarse a mesh to catch it.

Jinksy
It was quite amazing to me, the first time he did it!

Jim
Much thanks for this. Will certainly check out the link.

Bagman and Butler
I do know what you mean, though I must confess that I find the activity satisfying at the time, but inclined to leave me with a sense of time misspent.

Victoria
I do agree with both of your points. I am inclined to think that the alternate dimensions are still to have their day. My reply to Eileen is as close as I have ever got to a concept of time running backwards.

Mishi
Good to have you visiting and commenting, and good to know that you liked the poem. Thanks for saying.

Gerry
Yes, it was a smart move on his part. I think now I would only move them back, though!

The Weaver of Grass
I'm sure it is, yes, but maybe that's where we can do most with it! Mayeb that's where it was created in the first place!

Hannah
Well, yes, it's my favourite, too - and for those very personal reasons, of course.

Windsmoke
I'm sure that's true, but we've messed with all else... maybe that's the way we should go? Could we make things worse?

jabblog said...

For some reason - or none - I cannot comment on your latest poem, about delirium. I thought it was a very clear depiction of that strange state of otherness - frightening and fascinating at the same time.
I like this poem, too - especially the part about your infant son. What a precious memory:-)

Dave King said...

jabblog
Thanks for both comments. I quite often find that a post does not suggest a sensible comment, so I do not leave one. No harm done.

And yes, it remains a beautiful memory. Thanks for saying.

Helen said...

At this point in my life, turning back the clock a bit might be fun! My youngest son who is 49 tells me he remembers being born! Insists actually ... who am I to question? Delightful poem, Dave.

Mary said...

Time is something that is always interesting to think about. I agree wirh your comment about working yourself back to class teacher. All would definitely benefit if some of us would end up where we began! Some of MY first years of teaching were beautiful memories mot to be duplicated in later years.

Scarlet said...

I like your perspective of time here, specially the last lines.