The Illusion of Time

Eric Chai

Eric Chai

Age 0-9 category | Spring into Poetry Contest 2025 | San José Public Library

Every minute is like a second,  
Every hour is like a minute,  
Every year is like an hour,  
Like hours that vanish with the breeze.  
Time speeds up as we grow tall,  
When we were small, it barely crawled.  
One day felt endless, full and wide —  
Now weeks and months just seem to slide.  
When I'm having fun or deep in play,  
Time quietly slips away.  
The more I care, the less I see How fast time fades, how wild and free.  
Mountains and rivers fade in time, So too will beasts and men.  
All things arise and fall away —  
Time, an illusion we all must face. If time's illusion veils our way,  
Then what we do becomes our day.  
So dive into the things you love,  
Let joy and wonder fill your day.  
Though time may race and slip away,  
The present is where we should stay. For in each moment, bright and true,  
Each moment holds a gift for you. 
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