Hourglass and Pyramids
by Matthew Ridley
2013 Silver Key, Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Hourglass
A while ago, I got this neat antique hourglass from my grandfather.
As I stared at him, curious, he simply said, “Look at it”.
Inside I saw many grains of what looked like sand,
These bits of matter made me wonder to no end,
How life spans can be determined definitely,
How small we actually are to the galaxy,
How short, yet elastic time can be,
How early school takes place.
In this lone space,
I thought,
And thought,
Until the nighttime,
And at last, I understood.
Why we take all the risks we do,
Why we want to love unconditionally,
Why we confidently accept all misfortune,
Why others die still wanting to experience more,
People are afraid to be themselves in a limited world,
Why my parents reject give things we do not really require.
Then I realized how much we take everything we own for granted.
Pyramids
The heir of geometry, both golden and tall;
A grand mystery, yet a treasure to all.
What better structure created by man,
Has the same grace and power over its land?
Your perfect tip, your perfect blocks,
Very guarded on its own without locks;
Dare to invade? Dare to molest?
Secret traps shall put you to rest.
A symbol of money, the color of gold,
These are the actual fortunes that shall never grow old!
For when the time passes, and oh shall it pass!
It will never be the pyramid’s last.
Matthew Ridley is an 11th grade student at Northeast High School. Matthew participated in 2013 ProjectWrite and he regularly attends Friday Night Writes at PhilWP. His poetry received the 2013 Silver Key, Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.