<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=477500" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Phantom of Time</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">Many years ago <br>I imagined time flowing<br>Like a river without banks.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then I read some books<br>Of science and they said<br>That time is an irreversible arrow, <br>A relentless, unhaltable train, <br>That moves irresistibly, like fate. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">It travels from Past to Future<br>On invisible wheels<br>Neglecting to stop<br>At the railway station<br>On the road, called Present.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But I was not absolutely sure<br>That this was all true.<br>So I watched the clocks <br>And I saw their hands moving, <br>Undoubtedly showing, <br>And with mechanical precision, <br>The exact hours every day and night.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And I was very impressed that<br>The scientists had the evidence: <br>Time was really moving unstoppably. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">However, if you think carefully<br>You will notice that the clock-hands<br>Do not actually show time, because<br>What they show is movement in space.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So I have had a question.<br>If time is indeed in a state of flux, <br>Flowing like a river without banks, <br>Or moving and passing <br>Like an undeviating train; <br>Then what is its speed? </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And since <br>We measure speed<br>By the ratio of traveling distance<br>To the periodic motion of the clock, <br>How are we supposed to measure <br>The velocity of time? <br>By time itself? </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thus, <br>I came to the conclusion<br>That the flow of time<br>Is just a blooming metaphor, <br>A prosperous illusion: <br>The years do not pass by.<br>We pass through the years.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Time does not really exist! </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And nevertheless, it does. <br>It is its own phantom.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">For practical purposes, <br>We need the clock, of course. <br>Yet, at root, the notion of time<br>Appears to emanate from<br>A completely static cosmic womb<br>Of the universe. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">A boundless Sea of Eternity, <br>Time stands still.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And thus, <br>In our transient boats <br>We sail perhaps in quiet waters <br>From one port to another, <br>Or navigate perchance<br>Through turbulent waves<br>In the Ocean<br>Of Infinite Duration.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Paul+Hartal">Paul Hartal</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=477500" data-title="The Phantom of Time de Paul Hartal" data-description="Many years ago I imagined time flowing Like a river without banks. Then I read some books Of science and they said That time is an irreversible arrow, A relentless, unhaltable train, That moves irresistibly, like fate. It travels from Past t..."></div> </div> </div>

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