Counting Time

As we measure our lives,

we think of years,

or perhaps decades;

all that great expanse

required for deeds,

the time to make a life;

but how do we know the rain,

find the primrose in bloom

or hear the jays at dawn?

Sometimes we must shorten our view:

the scope must be finer

for all this being,

for all that is beautiful--

what we think eternal--

has no need for eternity,

but is alive in moments

that we can only love

in a lifetime of days.