the thief (unplugged)

softly
slipping by
unseen
unheard
unhindered
going
gone
elastic
light fantastic
now
and then
lost
and never found
spinning
round and round
childhood toys
and boys
some remembered noise
all are gone
no more to say
flitting sights
dizzy heights
depths
despair
no turning back
a one way track
faces
sounds
places
shift your gaze
to look again
amazed
that
10
20
30
stand between you
and your days
atrophying
40 summers
innocently play
while life is taken
far away
precious moments lost
friends
heroes
shards of broken life
briefly catch the light
then tumble out of sight
receding fast
no time to spare
(you say)
or pause
to catch a breath

but all too late
you’ll see that
Time
spares nothing
in its path