“Save daylight!” spoke the powers-that-be,
and everyone supined,
except for Arizona, see,
which steadfastly declined.

Hawaii, too, and certain parts
of Indiana judged
that darkness suited more their hearts,
and from it neither budged.

The light, meanwhile, remains unfazed,
affected not by men,
nor how they measure nights or days,
or which hour should come when.

For stronger hands than puny man’s
hold all time like a rock,
and laugh to see us tweak the hands
of every watch and clock,

as if we somehow sovereignty
possessed o’er life and time.
So set your clock full knowing He
is Lord. (Here ends this rhyme.)

 

T.M. and Susie Moore make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont. He is Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, and the author of 8 books of poetry. He and Susie have collaborated on more than 30 books, which may be found, together with their many other writings and resources, including the daily teaching letter Scriptorium, at www.ailbe.org.

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6 Responses

  1. Rod

    I love poems about time! This one I particularly enjoyed and your last verse is superbly rounded. Thank you for sharing – kind regards from New Zealand. Rod.

    Reply
  2. C.B. Anderson

    T.M.,

    I lived in Arizona for 3 1/2 years, so I know exactly what you are writing about. The reason they have decided not to extend daylight is that much of the state is just too damn hot and they want night to come as soon as possible. But you are correct; our conventions have no effect on the ordained astronomy that governs the universe.

    I thought that the parenthetical ending of the poem was a bold, risky move, but it seems to work. You acknowledge the limitations of your power and understanding, while meeting the demands of the rhymed formal quatrain, which makes me think that a poet, as master of the house created by his own hands, possesses an almost god-like power. After all, in whose image were we created?

    Reply
  3. Jan Darling

    Delicious TM and Susie! – how is it that poetry loving teachers are not asking their pupils to write about today’s themes? Journalists get to interpret it to fit their political masters’ ideologies – we must depend on poets to tell it like it is. Yes, CB – in whose image? You shine a light.

    Reply
  4. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    This admirably crafted poem is informative, entertaining and humbling. I love it!

    Reply
  5. Wyllis's Dad

    you need to learn about impact of various Native American governments on “time zones” in Arizona(& elsewhere. fun poem.

    Reply

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