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Time Changes (a co-write)


I don't have the time, I said
for all the stresses before me
I'll pick them off one by one
that way they'll become less
and I won't feel so harried
and so very much worried
Presently, my world closes around me
(which present I'm not sure)
time rushes through my fingers like sand
there's a lot of silicon there
and I feel as inferior as those specks
and enlarged beyond my specifications
as I face Chronos’ corridors
I count it dear, or try to
(and then from the beginning to there?
which is here I declare, or was once somewhere
or quite possibly neither, who knows?)


-------------------------------------------------------

This was co-written by the two Jess's: Elf and Dwarf... we'd been working on it for several weeks.  Our inspiration was the book titled A Sideways Look At Time, by Jay Griffiths
In short summary, the book asks the reader to throw out the preconcieved notions about time, and think about other aspects.  The closing italicised lines were designed to sort of be a.... well... example?? of that.

First revision: amended line #13 to incorporate multiple suggestions on Chronos.  Also, reformatted to include the original italics for closing lines, etc.


— infinite_dwarf, Jul 11, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: North Carolina, USA, USA

Favorite Poets: E.A. Poe, Lewis Carroll, Charles Bukowski, Michael McClure, Lawrence Ferlenghetti.

More from this author

Critiques

Eduardo Cruz

Eduardo Cruz

16 years 11 months ago

Jess,

Time is always an issue, that has never been controlled and as we look at it, it instantly become yesterday. the present and the pass seem all to melt into one. I like the idea, what you convey here. I real liked these two lines: "Presently, my world closes around me (which present I’m not sure)" as I said each present becomes yesterday right away. Great write. Eddie
infinite_dwarf

infinite_dwarf

16 years 11 months ago

Thanks Eddie!

Yes, those lines were Jess Elf's, and I agree, because it ties in the whole putting the notions of time on its head! Thanks for stopping by! ~Jess K. ----------------------- "Why worry? There should be laughter after pain. There should be sunshine after rain. These things have always been the same. So why worry now?" - Dire Straits
B

bjp

16 years 11 months ago

Dear Jessica and Jess,

I am glad that you are exercising. I read this first attributing authorship and then as a whole. I think co-written pieces allow nice juxtapositions which are hard to do on one's own without the dual experience. For example: time rushes through my fingers like sand there’s a lot of silicon there Good work, modeling and outcome. Brian
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 11 months ago

ta Brian, it was fun to write,

and a different sense of accomplishment from a shared project. I am toying with an extra line, to close it, something like I only know when it stops What do you think Jess? Cheers, Jess
Jonathan Moore

Jonathan Moore

16 years 11 months ago

Minor suggestion

and no doubt I'll wander in with more later, it's my nature. But the line: "as I face the void of time" is problematic for me. The repetition of the word time here doe not feel right. "Eternity" or other synonyms would be too much but then I thought, personification? Hmmm. I love me some good personification. With that in mind, what about: "as I face the void of Chronos" Ignore at your leisure and good effort by you both. --Jonathan Annoying the world, one person at a time (Group discounts available)
infinite_dwarf

infinite_dwarf

16 years 11 months ago

Thank you, thank you, and a response for Jess Elf.

First - thank you for the input, suggestions, and praise. They are much appreciated and seriously considered. Jess Elf - yes, I like your closing line, and can add it into a revision if you like. What do you think about the "I face the void of time" line? I agree with the fact that it's weak and could do with a change... and... since I was the one who came up with that line, I take full responsibility for its suckiness... LMAO! Can we think of a good synonym for time? How do you feel about Jon's 'chronos'? ~Jess K. ----------------------- "Why worry? There should be laughter after pain. There should be sunshine after rain. These things have always been the same. So why worry now?" - Dire Straits
S

Skumpfsklub

16 years 11 months ago

Chaos & Chronos

Little problem with that, I got me one. As I understand it, Chaos is first. The blind idiot god gibbering in a formlessness that cannot supply a discernible void. Subsequently, we get Chronos, who imposes an order on things. The Tick-Tock God, so to speak, whose very arrival defines 'subsequently,' 'order,' 'things,' 'time'---and 'void.' (Alternately, you could take 'Chaos' as the pre-metaphysical, and 'Chronos' as the ur-metaphysical, happily mixing the bones of dead languages in a tasty melange of neologistic self-indulgence, as I do.) I get the point of 'the void of Chronos,' but I think it twists 'Chronos' unreasonably. With a gun to my head, I would suggest that 'barrens of eternity' could stand in place of 'void of time'---but that plays merry hob with the pace of the piece, doesn't it? But, still, have you no heart? Won't somebody please think of the Titans? They have so few to defend them, lately. Perry
P

poewriter58

16 years 11 months ago

Jess and Jess

Brilliant, you write well together mom/chrys
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 10 months ago

point noted, and

oh shock oh horror! All the "bad" guys are involved. There must be something not-quite-nice happening here! Cheers, Jess
Jonathan Moore

Jonathan Moore

16 years 10 months ago

ROLF

Oh dear. I needed that. --Jonathan Annoying the world, one person at a time (Group discounts available)
infinite_dwarf

infinite_dwarf

16 years 11 months ago

Thank you again

Perry - My fog addled brain didn't comprehend your comment. I'll come back through and try again at another time. Luckily Jess was able to pick up my slack. Thank you for your thoughts and your time. Mom - This never would have happened if he hadn't recommended that book. Mutual fascination on subjects. =) Cat - That was a good improv, wasn't it? Jon - since we're using my husband as an intermediary, I asked him to shake your hand for me. *winks* Thank you again for your dedicated quest to help little 'ole people like me grow. ~Jess K. ----------------------- "Why worry? There should be laughter after pain. There should be sunshine after rain. These things have always been the same. So why worry now?" - Dire Straits
ID

Ink Dragon

16 years 10 months ago

JessElf and JessDwarf,

major job! Both the write and the revisions. Awesome! Just to add my own pet nit pick: I'd like a comma before "or" in l.16. Otherwise, simply awesome. Love particularly Presently, my world closes around me (which present I’m not sure) here. Yours, ~Nina
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 10 months ago

pretty pick, love it.

In a perfect would it would be which is here, I declare! Or was once somewhere but over, if correctly, punctuated for my taste mmm which is here I declare, or was once somewhere Jess, what do you think? Cheers, Jess