Rumi Quotes
Sponsored by: Sotto Poet
Contest Judged: 10/29/2025 1:40:00 PM
( 3rd Place )
Written: October 1, 2025
Rumi's Quote Inspired:
--"the wound is the place where the light enters you"--
I lugged silence like a stone
tucked away from all sight.
Pain etched itself into my days
and left footprints...
I could no longer claim.
Then a sliver of morning
crept into the narrow crack
inside me.
Soft as a whisper
warm as returning rain.
The mark I buried deep.
The emptiness I sidestepped…
became a threshold.
From the opening, light flowed,
calm, healing;
not to strike
but to illuminate and repair.
Its presence sank into my bones
flowing where sorrow had settled.
Turning every scar into a map
of where I had been
and where I could go.
Now I keep my chest open,
not to protect, not to perform.
But for the quiet truth
that what breaks us…
also makes room
for what saves us.
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
Time Passages
I drift midst some pleasant sensation~~from a morning mist,
that promptly parches within glowing ribbons~~where I sail lightly,
plucked anon afloat~~as my ramblings proceed aimlessly,
Presently skims a peacock sky~~fans out its righteous hue,
variously, ducks stapled in a pond~~quacks influences life,
views by ark's parts a motion~~equal to my emotions,
Channeling alterations that affect~~evolved futures,
preceptions are produced clearer~~like a hallway complete of doors,
whenever one is opened~~ventures varied responses,
I noted from moment to moment~~evoked fused answers,
harmonious so far~~whilst I perpetuate forward in thoughts,
mindful about yesterday's storm~~all in all, time will tell.
2020 November 13
*3rd Place*
Writing Challenge - Quote Inspired
~~Constance La France
' Time is the thief you cannot banish.'
Phyllis McGinley, Writer , 1905-1973
VALUE YOUR TIME
Time has neither beginning nor end,
but you are time- bound, be wise to spend.
Time is the period giving chance.
You are to utilize each instance.
Flowing forever, time infinite,
yet finite span for you to permit.
Past, present, future running entwined.
Time advancing, never to rewind.
Time is the thriller in happening.
Time is the healer in suffering.
Time is a great realization.
Value your time with veneration
Time is the thief you cannot banish,
fugitive, but never to vanish.
11/13/20
Third Place
' Writing Challenge -Quote Inspired' Contest by Constance La France
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
Oh, thief of life- your robber name is Time;
you never blink or take a simple pause.
Through Spring and Summer, Fall, and Wintertime,
this endless movement has no glitches, flaws.
If only we could change your ticktock laws-
slow down warp speed to stretch our days and years;
extend each moment's joy before it veers.
The time from birth to death short-changes life;
take pity on your passengers' true fears.
Oh, thief of life- please let half-times run rife.
November 13, 2020
~1st Place~
Contest: All Yours (Jun 1)
Sponsor: Brian Strand
Judged: 06/01/2021
~1st Place~
Contest: Writing Challenge- Quote Inspired
Sponsor: Constance La France
Judged: 11/14/2020
10 Syllables Per Line
Rhyme: a b a b b c c d c d
“Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 – 1978
I,
wake up in the morning, hurry to get ready;
run to the station to catch the first train;
get out of the train, walk to the office;
sit at the desk, sink face to the monitor;
get up, run back to station;
come home at dusk;
grab something for dinner;
sleep.
Next day - Repeat.
The day after- Repeat.
Once in a while,
I stand in front of the mirror;
frown at the person inside;
because, it questions me.
How dare?
“What are you doing?
Where are your dreams?
When is your dreamy vacation?
Have you born only for this ?”
On such days,
through a thin cloud of tears,
I see,
time creeps like a thief,
steals my dreams and runs away.
I stay stoned, like Mount Everest.
Contest - Writing Challenge- Quote inspired- Poetry Contest
Date - 12 November 2020
Contest Sponsor- Constance La France
2nd place in the contest
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
Devastating news, it can’t be denied
terminal cancer… time’s not on our side
you whisper to me, please be my bride
In hospice you accept strong pain relief
we know that our union will be brief
both all too aware ‘time is a thief’
Staff organise for us to wed,
my dress isn’t white, its vivid red -
we exchange rings as you lay in bed
We wed in such sad circumstance
sip champagne, but there’s no first dance
nor honeymoon in Paris, France
I hold you close as you slip away ...
we were only married for half a day,
my broken heart is here to stay
Writing Challenge - Quote Inspired - Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France
11/12/20
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
it steals the seconds from the day
and turns months into years
even centuries it will slay
and leave behind our yesterdays
time churns eons into eternity
as it basks in the glow of the present
it rules the kingdom of the past
its future kingdom is just as vast
it plays the role of both enemy and friend
and it will take us to the end
history carves out events in time
with perspectives to lend
on borrowed time we live this life
knowing we will pay the loan in full
but the months and years will not vanish
"Time is the thief you cannot banish"
11-12-2020
Writing Challenge Quote Inspired Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
Transporting you all through each moment of every second
then whisking your thought’s through empty space
a thief of life and then welcoming death to all the living
while waiting for each second to appear and then, just disappearing
time just wasting away through man’s toy’s and creations
with thought’s of the future that we will never see, now wasted
for none can see the future only the present is just wasting away
running though life as if we will see tomorrow thinking,
I will just wait until tomorrow to say: I Love You
three words that may never be heard if you don’t say it, today
Contest: Writing Challenge-Quote Inspired
Sponsored By: Constance La France
Date Created: 11/11/2020
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
Time
Is but,
A theif too
Sly for its age,
Stealing away all the seconds in one's
Life, Making it shorter by each day, time
With stealth, begets
Eden in,
It's own,
Nest.
11/11/20
Writing Challenge - Quote Inspired - Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
A most curious thing is time.
While you are enjoying it,
it’s up to its usual crime -
being the thief you can’t outwit!
When it’s bad, it’s so very bad.
A most curious thing is time,
and when you are feeling most glad,
it never will be more sublime.
Each day to the sky, sun will climb.
You’ll think to yourself – a new dawn!
A most curious thing is time.
In shadows, you’ll grieve that it’s gone.
It’s robbing us now! This we know
the more keenly as past our prime
into the “golden” years we go.
A most curious thing is time.
Nov. 10, 2020
For the Writing Challenge - Quote Inspired - Poetry Contest
of Constance La France
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
the sands flow steadily through the hour glass
can't be stopped~slowed
drifts grain by
slow grain
drips
goes
until
the chosen
end, emptied out
where the soul goes is up to your choosing
Written: November 10, 2020
Contest: Writing Challenge_ Quote Inspired
Sponsor: Constance La France
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
The end of my time will come in winter.
Or so I’ve been told.
The wind blows and rattles
the loose louvers of my windows.
Occasional thunder rumbles,
and rain floods my garden.
How quiet is the house today,
despite the crackles of burning wood.
I remember the past which exists no more.
The present is now solitude.
All is deadly silence,
a moment of peace.
So I sit alone and ponder.
Like a clock, life is ticking
towards my destiny.
I know too well about life.
It is not the here that is important,
but the eternal after.
And I am prepared for the journey.
Let winter do its infinite worst.
I fear it not.
10 November 2020
Placed 1
Writing Challenge - Quote Inspired - Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
"Time is the thief you cannot banish." Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
Always with me but have never seen her
yet she engulfs my life in every way,
with her unseen chains why would she tether
me, why would she grip my life in her sway;
this strange bond I find it so hard to grasp,
my feelings about her sits in the cave
of my heart, she who holds me in her clasp
must know this, as I think of them as grave;
I know, I am prisoned in unseen cage
and must dance to the tunes thrown at me,
unable to catch her I park my rage
calling her thief on the run gives me glee.
Yes, Time is a thief you cannot banish
She is a thief even if I perish.
8-Nov-2020
Writing Challenge - Quote Inspired - Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley, Writer, 1905 - 1978
time
doesn't halt.
unconcerned
it steals the breath,
moments, and sunshine as it ticks onward.
still, the nights grow cold and the stars shiver,
summer goes and
winter comes,
days fade
out.
11/7/2020
Writing Challenge - Quote Inspired - Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
"Time is the thief you cannot banish."
Phyllis McGinley
Their shadows follow slowly behind them
close friends sharing a moment in the sun
disappearing into the floating clouds
playing Hide and Seek among the branches
They refuse, as shadow's do, to grow up
to stand still and stop that fidgeting
laughing as the wind tosses their hair
racing ahead to splash through puddles
Holding hands they engage in a mock skip
drawing closer as the sun's moment fades
close friends sharing a moment - drift apart
withdraw into an ever graying dusk
11/5/2020
Quote Inspired Poetry Contest
Constance LaFrance - Sponsor
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