river waters
rocks tumble
down the stream bed
moved by the current
like the days escaping
every second lost
every minute spent
no day retrieved
as sands pour
into the lower cup
of the hour glass
they slide down
keep track
trickling slowly
surely
not moving fast
until the end
no sound
escapes the device
even as
eternity approaches
our lives pass
without apology
no one slows the passage
of our days
endangered
without renewal
they are numbered
soon to be extinct
they never last
the spark still flickers
but the clay
fades
the spark inside
moves on
when the clay
is dried
becomes useless
finally then
falls away
