image of steampunk time smuggler--dreamstime.com
Poem submitted to “Dealing in Time” poetry contest, Joseph May, sponsor, March 18, 2026
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If time were currency, the markets would thunder~ seconds sold at sunrise, minutes bought at dusk. Would the rich wear hourglass cuffs, their palms full of sand? Would moguls hoard eternity in vaults of will? If time were currency, the markets would stall~ seconds faltering at the altar of the inevitable end. Would beggars clutch crumbs of twilight? Would the wretched fold their hands, praying for a minute to survive? If time were currency, ruthless time smugglers would flourish~ stolen seconds and rusted gears bootlegged, hidden in their pockets. Would a grief-stricken widow purchase one final glance? Would a remorseful thief return his first mistake? If time were currency, time bankers would be ecstatic~ our seconds and unspent days bartered for kindness. Would an abused wife purchase a moment of random kindness? Would a cancer patient trade her kindness for a cure? If time were currency, would we... ...be cognizant of clocks with hollow hands and hourglass smugglers? …hoard the dawn, stuffing our pockets with moonlight spilling between the blinds? …learn to spend time wisely before the last invoice of our soul is paid?
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