The Gift of Time
by J. Joy Matthews Alford © 12/2/2011

The gift of time is precious
That thing given us
Which, despite our most fervent desire
Cannot be kept

That thing which, when spent,
Becomes the calendar
Upon which our story is told,
Through which our history unfolds

Unique for each of us
We are her centerfold
Naked truth fills the pages
Where she, time, reigns supreme

Inside her book we look at our lives
With celebration or sorrow

Decades dance, prance or drag by
As we fill each hour-glass of every today
Creating tomrrows from choices
That make us who we are

So dance deftly and with boldness
Embrace vigor and compassion along the way
Each is required to complete the course
For if nothing else, life's two-step teaches
That regret has the greatest memory
And can be vanquished only by virtue
So let her gossamer wings lift you
To realms of trust, truth and happiness
Where time is always on your side