Time, Lifetime, Time Beyond Timing Poem by Ananta Madhavan

Someone asked, ‘What is Time? '
Reply: ‘Ten past five'.
I did not ask, ‘What's the time? '
I asked, ‘What is Time? '

Reply: ‘Time is … of the essence'.
Essence of what?
‘Essence of Life'.
What is Life?
Life is a many-splendoured thing.
Or it may be a many-nastied thing.
Yes.
What is the splendour of Life?
Happiness and suchlike.
What is happiness?
It is harmony.
Harmony of what?
Of the mind and the body in peace.

But we both agreed
That Time may be timeless.