Speed Of Time

Original DDE™ art:“Dematerialization Of Time” — by: rob kistner © 4/2/26

—-<§>—-

dear time—

I write to you…
as if you might
pause long enough
to read this—

once you moved gracefully
with a kind of breath—
a measured unfolding—
space between moments
where a life could settle

now you rush—
or so it feels…
as if something startled you—
and you never recovered

tell me—
was it us…

…did we pull at you
…divide you—
name you into smaller
and still smaller pieces…
until you forgot—
forgot how to stretch

no one seems
to sit with you anymore

we spend you
like loose change
in a dim room
and call it living

I remember
when you were larger—
when an hour held weight—
when waiting was not loss

but rather…
…the thrill of embarking
…the joy of the scenic route
…the celebration of arrival
…the pleasure of lingering—
savored — not avoided

what happened to that—
or is it only me

am I standing still
while everything else
rushes forward

it is as if time
is vanishing
and we watch — powerless

so… if you can—

please slow just enough
to let me feel you again—
if for just a moment more

…not as pressure
…not as escape
but as something
that stays
long enough
to be known

to be appreciated

to be precious— again

…rob

<~>

rob kistner © 4/2/26

Poetry at: dVerse

 

16 thoughts on “Speed Of Time”

  1. Nice one, Rob, and an unusual addressee. I love the opening stanza, tongue in cheek, and I love the way you captured the way time speeds up as one gets older. I too miss the way time used to stretch, especially in the summer holidays.

  2. I’m glad you chose a conceptual addressee – something I was tempted with but you have done wonders with time. Rob.
    “now you rush—
    or so it feels…
    as if something startled you—”

    Gothe’s ‘Faust’ would understand this!

    1. Thank you Laura. It just reached out to me to communicate with time. Ig id on my mind all the “time” now.
      If ever I say to the moment:
      “Stay, you are so beautiful”—
      then you may take my soul.

  3. I enjoyed this one a lot. It does seem that society is in such a dang rush, perfect timing to, as this is the best time to stop, breathe, and smell all the blooming flowers….thanks for the reminder, also great videos and songs as always!!

    1. Thank you Cara. It is fascinating how the changes in our way of life have impacted the relative perceived speed of time… and quite dramatically — especially the tech impact. My posts require three legs for solid balance — poetry/art/music. 😉

  4. Rob, to me it feels like the more I’ve learned to appreciate time, the less it has learned to appreciate me. Not a good feeling to be left in the dust.

    1. Time is an impatient and inconsiderate SOB. It’s been on my mind — when does mine run out, so how much have I got left, and how should I best invest what there is left for me.

  5. OH Rob, every tinge of anxiety, longing, wanting more time transferred from your creative brain to my old self …. I’ve not read anything as poignant, creative as your letter to time.

  6. Time is funny, isn’t it! In a rush when it should linger and dawdling when it should fly. You capture the nuances of its movement so well, Rob! A wonderful write.

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