The Sifting Sands

by damommy

The sands of time, so slow to sift

through tiny neck of hourglass,

belie that days are short and swift,

how quickly can a lifetime pass.

Through tiny neck of hourglass,

the grains fall through, first one, then two

and soon each follows ‘til, en masse,

their constant passage to renew,

belie that days are short and swift.

Though time cannot be stopped or held,

what is allotted is a gift,

a life unique, unparalleled.

How quickly can a lifetime pass?

It’s not a question of the span,

but how it’s spent with care and class,

and if we’ve done what good we can.

Write A Review

Poem of the Month contest entry

Recognized

#244
2020

Like so many other French forms, the Retourne is all about repetition. It contains four quatrains and each line has eight syllables. (16 lines, 8/8/8/8) The trick is that the first stanza's second line must also be the second stanza's first line, the first stanza's third line is the third stanza's first, and the first stanza's fourth line is the fourth stanza's first.
Retournes do not have to rhyme. (rhyme optional)

Class - elegance in behavior

Club entry for the "Retourne--week of 6-26-2020" event in "Put Pen To Paper Potlatch Poetry Club". Locate a writing club.

Pays one point and 2 member cents.

You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.

A Retourne poem for Potlatch Poetry

The Sifting Sands

by damommy

The FanStory Store For Writers

Your Poem On A Mug