time takes us back

draft 2

i cradled time in my hands today
watched it squirm around and felt its heartbeat
heard stories whispered
past, present, future-here at once
time's flesh is real and substantial, yet so fragile
like a jack-o-latern slowly composting itself
back to an earthen hue

draft 1

today i cradled time in my hands
considered it
watched it squirm
the years seem infinite and timeless at once
passing by like jack-o-laterns on all those friendly porches
their orange flesh turns to an earthen hue
before my eyes