Time

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"All we have to decide is what to do with 
            the time that is given us"        ~ JRR Tolkien ~

We are defined by how we use our time -
it can't be owned, it only can be spent.
So thus is our eternal paradigm:
we cannot borrow what cannot be lent.

Like clockwork, hearts keep ticking towards the past;
we are defined by wars our hearts have fought.
We can't predict when they will beat their last -
though souls are infinite, our lives are not.

One little step begins each summit's climb;
each moment, like a cloud, will surely drift.
We are defined by how our minutes rhyme -
let us embrace the present as a gift.

Though growth be slow, be not afraid of growing;
much steeper is the cost of standing still.
Don't watch the clock; do what it does... keep going.
We are defined by heartbeats that we fill.


Words used for the 'Time' contest: 
time, moment, clock, ticking, past, present, eternal, infinite

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020



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Date: 12/13/2021 9:14:00 PM
Just discovered this most insightful, wisdom filled poem of yours, John, and must Fave it immediately (no time to loose, lol!) ;) ps. - this really is excellent! :)
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John Watt
Date: 12/14/2021 11:45:00 AM
Laura, it's so heartwarming to see you going back into the archives and leaving me your kind review. Appreciate the fave and the mutually encouraging friendship God has given us. Blessings and hugs ~ John
Date: 8/16/2020 2:46:00 PM
Just did the math . It's closer to 40 thousand!!!
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John Watt
Date: 8/16/2020 2:57:00 PM
How do you even calculate something like that? Wow!
Date: 8/16/2020 2:45:00 PM
awesome, John, and a big congrats on the win I see you got from Constance in July. Geeez, I must have spent well over 20,000 hours or more on tv shows and movies. Maybe I will be judged to sit in a movie theater after I die? (I would quite love that!)
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John Watt
Date: 8/16/2020 2:56:00 PM
Thanks, Andrea.I imagine the movies you'd have to watch would determine how much you would love it, haha!
Date: 7/8/2020 1:39:00 PM
CONGRATULATION John. i love the second line of first stanza most.
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John Watt
Date: 7/8/2020 2:15:00 PM
Anisha, thank you for taking time to read and comment. It's nice to know what your favourite line was. Take care ~ John
Date: 7/7/2020 4:33:00 PM
John, congratulations on your win in my time contest _Constance
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John Watt
Date: 7/7/2020 10:06:00 PM
Constance, great contest! I loved reading the many winners and was honored to be among them. Thank you!
Date: 7/7/2020 2:06:00 PM
I love this muse especially because it reflects the gems of your experiences and wisdom through your thought provoking words. This side of yours shines out in your poems my friend. Congratulations on the deserving win! :) God bless you!
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John Watt
Date: 7/7/2020 10:16:00 PM
You have been very gracious with your kind words today, my friend! Thank you so much for all the reads, comments and congrats. Many blessings ~ John
Date: 7/7/2020 7:19:00 AM
I am offering congratulations on your winning poem, John. Sorry I didn't read your intuitive lines until now. "...can't be owned...only spent." Wonderful!
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John Watt
Date: 7/7/2020 8:54:00 PM
Grateful for the read and congrats, Jenna. Be blessed, my new poetry friend ~ John
Date: 7/7/2020 4:47:00 AM
I loved the ideas expressed in your meaningful poem, John and have faved it to enjoy at a later date. Time is indeed precious and yet so easily wasted. Thank you for these thought provoking sentiments at the start of a new day.
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John Watt
Date: 7/7/2020 8:52:00 PM
Wendy, I thank you heartily for the fave, and the kind regards. Always appreciate your friendship. All the best to you ~ John
Date: 7/7/2020 2:30:00 AM
Incredibly brilliant, John, "...much steeper is the cost of standing still.", --and line thereafter, --amazing expressions, worthy to garner 1st Place, my friend -- Aloha~@William
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John Watt
Date: 7/7/2020 8:51:00 PM
Thank you for your generous words, William! Much appreciated ~ John
Date: 7/7/2020 1:12:00 AM
We are defined by how our minutes rhyme - let us embrace the present as a gift..Wow.. This is the best among the best for me.. Great win John.. Congrats..
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John Watt
Date: 7/7/2020 1:27:00 AM
Thank you for your very kind evaluation, Jenish. Warmest regards ~ John
Date: 7/6/2020 4:03:00 PM
'We are defined by how our minutes rhyme' - love it (and as poets, doubly true!) I hope you are enjoying your time given-
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John Watt
Date: 7/6/2020 6:18:00 PM
Michelle, you keep writing these wonderful comments today, and you keep mentioning my favorite lines... we must be twins or something. Thanks for all the kind words and fond wishes - yes, I am enjoying my time given. ~ John
Date: 7/4/2020 8:19:00 AM
This is a truly great poem, John--skillfully-written, conveying a powerful message about time. Janice
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John Watt
Date: 7/4/2020 7:38:00 PM
I thank you, Janice, for your warm and generous words. They are greatly appreciated ~ John
Date: 7/3/2020 2:37:00 PM
Lovely piece John, nice rhyme and expression too. Enjoyed your postscript on the description of time. Hope all well with you and the family, Blessings,Gordon
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John Watt
Date: 7/3/2020 5:50:00 PM
Thanks Gordon, yes all is well. Appreciate your kind words, my friend. God bless ~ John
Date: 7/3/2020 12:40:00 PM
Superb exercise* in the quatern form, John. Precision penning! Take good care, Gershon *'exercise' in the sense of a J.S. Bach 'Exercise in A Major for Piano and Violin.' G.L. in the contest! Cheers Gershon
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John Watt
Date: 7/3/2020 5:33:00 PM
Thanks for the encouragement, GW. I'm going to go YouTube that Bach exercise you recommend. ~ John
Date: 7/3/2020 11:36:00 AM
Love the last verse...it is wise!
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John Watt
Date: 7/3/2020 3:16:00 PM
Thanks, Kim. Always a pleasure to hear from you ~ John
Date: 7/3/2020 5:41:00 AM
I agree John, we need to be vigilant and watchful on how we spend our time. As we get older that statement becomes all more precious, we have less energy so we spend it with things that matter most. Love and hugs, xo
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John Watt
Date: 7/3/2020 3:13:00 PM
Fully agree with all you say, Pix. Thanks for the thoughtful comment ~ John
Date: 7/3/2020 3:48:00 AM
Great use of the eight words John, time seems to speed up as we get older, I always make use of every minute because you can't get it back once gone. Good luck Tom
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John Watt
Date: 7/3/2020 3:11:00 PM
So true, Tom. Wish I could get back some of those hours. Thanks for the visit ~ John
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