Life's unwelcome companion

You know me well but not by name yet I have walked through your days watched you grow, smiled at your laughter, saw your tears and shared your sadness … since when your days were but a whisper Some say that I take friends and loved ones but it is not so, some say my touch is death that is but half the truth, closer to a lie … but that I touched you … that much is true … Not convinced are we, I see, still you know I have touched your brow ever so gently and character lines appeared to define you caressed your temple with a hint of grey … those aches and pains inside your bones yes cruel you think of me I know, still there be no comfort for me or what I do nor fancy in mankind’s misguided contempt. No monster am I, no hollow laughter echoes on feeble, futile, foolish attempts of escape. Remember, I toy not with you or mankind for birth starts my sad song of the ages back and forth and forth and back, timeless yes timeless am I but that’s not you from bright eyed babies to empty souls all fragile, finite, faithful to my call Ah, a name forms on your lips I see … mine perhaps, speak it then, who am I? great equalizer, great uncertainty … no the lifespan given unto you and all your kind and I answer to the name of Borrowed Time