Poetry About the Passage of Time

Apr 07, 2024

The passage of time — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Poetry provides a way to explore time, capturing moments, emotions, and reflections on the ever-changing nature of existence. Poets use carefully chosen words and imagery to show how time affects people, and they explore themes of change and lasting qualities. In this post I’m going to share two of my poems on the subject.

Poetry expresses the nostalgia of remembering past experiences in the present. Poets use vivid descriptions and reflections to delve into memory and the bittersweet feeling of reminiscing. This allows readers to connect with the poet’s journey through time, creating a sense of shared human experience.

Poetry also looks at the cyclical nature of time, drawing parallels between nature’s rhythms and human life’s patterns. Using metaphors and symbolic language, poets show how time continues, emphasizing the connection between the past, present, and future. This contemplation offers a deep perspective on the inevitability of change and the echoes of history.

Additionally, poetry provides a space for deep thoughts on mortality, aging, and the fleeting moments of human existence. By immersing readers in the emotional landscapes of change, poets offer reflections on the swift passage of time and the impermanence of all things. This exploration can lead to introspection and an appreciation for the fleeting beauty found in life’s brief moments.

In short, poetry is an artistic way to navigate time, that encourages readers to think about the passage of time in their own lives. Poetry embraces the intricate details of time, encouraging awareness of how time deeply affects the human experience.

Here are two poems I wrote about the passage of time:

The Speed of the Tide

As a child, I saw time as an invisible weave.
Too big to imagine, too silky to retrieve.
Like a thread made of steel, too strong to break.
The road ahead was mine to take.

Then, it started spinning so fast.
Years went by in a second, a flash.
Forgotten is who I used to be.
A new version appeared suddenly.

Rising from the underground, she stretches her neck.
While her younger self fades away day by day.
Like a shadow melting away by a tree.
A burst of wind disappearing over the sea.

Everything is no longer ahead.
Some things have been written, others been said.
I see the horizon further down the road. 
The sky is gleaming with red and gold.

Over my shoulder, I see the child I used to be.
She is trotting along, kicking stones by her feet.
Eyes wide with wonder, arms dangling free.
Lips red of strawberries, scrapes on her knees.

Should I tell her about the speed of the tide?
How the waves will erode her castle of sand?
I turn abound to start but stop in my stride.
Closing my mouth, I step away with a smile.

The Wheel of Time

If went back in time and caught sight of myself.
Eyes closed towards the sun, in my hand a resting pen.
Would I tap her on the shoulder to warn her of the pain?
Of the trials and tribulations, roads not to take again.
The answer is no; I’d back away towards the shade.

I’d let her stay there in the sun, happy and at peace.
The road ahead had not been breached, no painful memories.
But I wouldn’t change a thing, they made me realize;
That everything I went through was written by design.
By a hand that plays the game with less effort than mine.

That moves pieces on the board with ease and grace.
Knowing how it all plays out in every game.
No matter how you try, you can’t escape the needle’s chime.
That’s what you have to learn, in the wheel of time.

Famous Poem About the Passage of Time

One of the most renowned poems on the subject is “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats. This timeless piece of poetry explores the concept of immortality and the enduring nature of art in contrast to the transient quality of human existence. Keats contemplates the scenes depicted on the urn and muses on the eternal beauty captured within the artwork, highlighting the theme of the unchanging nature of art in the face of temporal existence.

Closing Thoughts

“The Speed of the Tide” and “The Wheel of Time” both explore the passage of time. They explore the ever-changing nature of life and offer reflections on growing up and the idea of destiny. The second poem poses a thought-provoking question about whether one would avoid certain experiences if they knew about them in advance. The sentiment suggests a reluctance to do so, emphasizing the richness found in embracing life’s unpredictable journey.

You can read more about poems on homeland and childhood here. Do you have thoughts about the passage of time? Share in the comments. Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I will share more poems on this subject.