The Time Keeper
I might bear silence to the big bang theory
And to the testimony that the ice age
Swallowed up the mammoth dinosaur
But
I watched the apes grow up into man
And not surprisingly today many men still
Scamper off with their tail between their legs
And
I saw the glory of the Indus
The might of Rome
I saw too history repeat itself
Unerringly
From barbarian to benevolent rulers
And the destructive technologies of
The two world wars
I
Kept quiet, watched man grow
From glass houses they now
Massive boulders throw
Times
Have not changed
But I have become flexible
With the passage of
Humanity
If you were to but
Take a leaf out of my day
I differ from you in no little
Way
As the sun throws off the covers
Of darkness and twinkling stars
I am the humble yet much abused alarm
Clock
I ensure you reach work on time
And watch your toast in the oven
I even squeeze the oranges
Talk
About destiny playing host
Hugging you in the guise of a seat belt
Reserving your parking slot for
You
Stirring your senses as the aromatic coffee
Controlling your temper over files uncleared
And abating your fears were you in the line of
Fire
Quenching your desire as a power lunch
Or even a wink from a colleague
Ensuring your headlamps burn as you
Drive
Back home to a lit fireplace
Smell of healthy cooking
And the kids in bed
Strange
All of you have forgotten
How I waited by you
When you were stood up for that
Date
Of how I surfed the net with you
While you awaited your friendly nick
Over the ICQ
Yet
Do I complain of the occasions
When you have berated time
Little realizing that what you
Lost
Was and is only mine
I was your hope that crossed your fingers
I was the handkerchief that wiped your
Tears
All these years I stood by you
Shut my eyes when you first kissed
Kept mum over your first lie
Why
For I keep time
Of the good and bad
I have no favourites
And
I cannot be had
Some try to buy me
When they are on death
Row
I cannot be procrastinated
For I can never go
The old faithful
Who
Keeps records
In an open book
Commonly called
Fate
And I will even await
Your benign presence
When you perchance the pearly
Gate
And then look over you again
From a foetus to a man
I am but your humble
Guardian
They call me time
And Canute knows why
I refused to be his companion
For
You may come and you may go
And the brook might even dry up
Save this time keeper who'll go on
Forever
Vikram
C
