Tool and Tyrant

as inspired by the teaching on Shavout of Cantor Melanie Fine

Time is both a tool
	and a tyrant

For God, time is of no matter
	as for God

As best as we can 	
	can understand

Is above and over
	beneath, beyond, 
	inside, and outside
		of time

But as for us, time ticks away,
	a limited commodity,
	of those full measure we
	cannot know until the
	account is emptied
	and for us
Time ticks away
	from entry to exit,
	time’s personal conclusion
		forgone.

When does time’s awareness dawn?
	For Eve at Cain’s death,
	For us, when hunger strikes and sustenance
		is not forthcoming?
	Or is it the first school bell?

Or a slow breaking knowledge
	when a pet,
		or a friend,
		or someone loved
	doesn’t return
	and we might realize
		they will never
			return.

Those Jews who attend such things
	count time each
		lunar month
		each
		seventh day
		each
		breaching daily section
			in morning devotions
			afternoon devotions
			evening prayers.

Each month, sabbath, holiday, distinct
		liturgy
		marks its own times.

Counting minutes hours day weeks
		months years anniversaries
		commemorations
	Each in its own time
		Until
Each end her own time.

Is this dismal?  Or simply bald fact?

I do not know, but without much
	distress
We measure out our seasons
	in carefully measured coffee spoons,
Appreciatively, apprehensively,
	the great gift which only
	when the account balance is
	measurably decreased, we treat
	with a long delayed parsimony,
Regretting, and cherishing, all those
Waste moments that was God’s
Greatest boon.