|
|
|
Page 4 |
|
|
Poetry is harder to define and though perhaps more recognisable than other literary forms there are characteristics which define them from other types of literature. The following piece of work Time- Refelections is written in prose and as it implies it reflects the protesting aspect in man.
How often do we hear that? More than any previous age of men, we?re obsessed by time. To measure our days by folds of ten, always under pressure to gain time. People rush at the risk of killing themselves ? or others to " make time." And then what? We often don?t know what to do with the time we have. We find that "time drags"- Yet this has dragged us too. Man faces the problem of how "to kill time." "Killing time" is a strange phrase. Is it an accident that we speak like that? Why is it that such a phrase we raise? Man will kill what threatens him. What frightens him. Could it be because time threatens us? Are we afraid of it that we speak of "killing time"? Why are we so afraid of time? Alas! Alas! I believe it's true We are in some sense afraid of time. We're afraid of the time that's "wasted"- And time is thought to be wasted when it's not fulfilled. We're afraid of being alone- Alone in silence, with "time on our hands." Might we be afraid of having time, to think ,to wonder? Rushing to save time. Are we really running away from time? The rush and the noise of modern living. Are they a way of escape? From stillness, from silence! Are they a form of running away? We need time. Time for silence and concentration. To think deeply, to admire, to wonder. Concentration to pull our thoughts and ourselves together with deliberation. Together round the centre of our existence. Distraction is letting ourselves be pulled- hither and yon by things that are peripheral or off-centre. We need distraction. But we need re-centring too. So much of our life is only distraction. When there is no search for a centre? we begin to fall apart- no more attraction. We begin to fall to pieces. Let us take time, or better still "waste" it to do the unproductive things. To do those things closer to our centre- than just pay or profit. The fulfilment it brings Things that fulfil- our deeper and higher being- Things that are outside time. In a way we are conscious of time. Alas! we?re outside time ? admiring nature?s beauty ? sunrise, sunset, the night sky, fresh life bursting out in Spring; Life dying gracefully in Autumn. Men and women become absorbed in mysterious timeless depths, when they wonder at love. When they wonder to caring in times of need. And wonder and think what is above? Exaltation is a word we use for such moments. We say we're" uplifted." Maybe it's a case of being lifted up to where we belong, to where we came from. It could be even God, calling- to be remembered, knocking at our door. We could do it in silence too; no need to shout or roar. When we don't try to look, explore or even think. Regardless we're at the brink? We just let ourselves be taken over- Over the silence and the stillness - out of which we came - and towards this which we have to go. We need deliberately to "waste time." We need to escape from the spell of time. It?s worth taking time off to escape- To turn or return to God. Or let God come in to us. I believe He's there, always there; but we don't "take time" to notice.
 Here
|
