"time is of the essence"

arqios

"time is of the essence"

 

 

We compete for every moment—

               ikkoku o arasō— 

as dawn spills gold across the plains,

each breath a bargain struck in morning’s hush.

 

We vie for each minute and each second—  

             ippun ichibyō o arasō— 

while shadows flee the sun’s fierce blaze,

hearts pounding in the space between ticks.

 

Today’s single moment is worth a thousand gold coins—

kyō no ikkoku wa senkin ni ataisuru—

so let us gather sparks before they drift to dust.

 

Time is money— toki wa kane nari—

and time is life— toki wa inochi nari—

two truths entwined in every pulsing hour.

 

Time flies like an arrow— kōin ya no gotoshi—

so sharpen your gaze, track its silent arc,

lest it pierce your dreams and vanish.

 

Treasure time— toki o oshimu—

with careful hands and eager eyes,

for in its fleeting pulse we find our only chance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Author: crypticbard (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: March 1st, 2026 08:23
  • Comment from author about the poem: I’ve woven English reflections on time with Japanese refrains (ikkoku o arasō, ippun ichibyō o arasō, and more) to explore each moment’s urgency and value. Which phrase or image struck you most? Did the bilingual shifts deepen your sense of time’s fleeting pulse? I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions or even personal translations. —Let’s unpack these sparks before they drift to dust.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 13
  • Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange, sorenbarrett
  • In collections: delayed telecast.
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Comments +

Comments6

  • Tristan Robert Lange

    arqios, the refrain structure gives the poem a heartbeat, and the Japanese lines act like quiet chimes between the English reflections. “Hearts pounding in the space between ticks” is what struck me most, and the shifts absolutely heightened that fleeting pulse. Beautifully woven, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦‍⬛

    • arqios

      I’m glad you said that, Tittu. Last year in another site, someone couldn’t take the ‘noise’ and asked for a version with non-English stripped away, lol 😂🙏🏻🕊️

      • Tristan Robert Lange

        You are most welcome, my friend. Ugh. Yeah. 🙄 Thankfully...not me! 😁 LOL!

      • sorenbarrett

        I love the mixture of the two especially in that you have paired them so that they are understandable. The topic too is a good one for a population that is short on gratitude. Each breath a gift, each moment an opportunity a lovely write my friend

        • arqios

          That is most beautifully said, Soren. Thanks so much🙏🏻🕊️

          • sorenbarrett

            Most welcome Cryptic

            • arqios

              🙏🏻🕊️

            • Thomas W Case

              Superb work. Powerful.

              • arqios

                So grateful as ever, Thomas 🙏🏻🕊️

              • orchidee

                Confucius, he say - oh no, that's Chinese! lol.

                • arqios

                  Close enough l, O. Thanks heaps 🙏🏻🕊️

                • Kevin Hulme

                  Some will value Time over Money, and Visa Versa. Well Said.

                  • arqios

                    Indeed, that’s the way of thinks it would seem, thanks Kevin🙏🏻🕊️

                  • David Wakeling

                    This is amazing. I wish I learned Japanese. Time is a complex mistress. I guess she runs away from all of us eventually. The poem is right we need to treasure Time because it will runaway eventually. I really liked reading this. Thoughtful

                    • arqios

                      That’s awesome, amigo🙏🏻🕊️



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