time is a thief br a thief of love, breath and living br life slips away on cat's feet br silent it goes without fanfare br almost unnoticed, youth fades to old br with wrinkles, fear and desperation br and far too soon we have much behind and little ahead br we mark the passing of time but time br passes us, finally br confused, eyes unclear and hands unsteady br ears are dulled but still can hear the ticking of the clock br the mind is dimished now br forgettting more than remembering br once familiar faces are now but strangers br in a strange world br youth demands dignity with strength br no strength or dignity for the aged br life begins, is and ends with but a single br tick of the clock br time is a thief of precious life br never to be recovered br only in fairy tales do dreams come truebr br Joseph Whitebr br