Measured Time--A Villanelle

How does it slip away?
These measured breaths of precious life—
How quickly time does stray!

Beautiful moments of quiet days
Mixed with bitterness of strife—
How does it slip away?

“Always another,” we still say,
Though standing on the edge of a knife—
How quickly time does stray!

Nothing can be done to keep it at bay,
This sandy stream of measured life—
How does it slip away?

In hastened daylight we still play,
Pretending night shall bring no strife—
How quickly time does stray!

There is nothing to keep this time at bay,
Yet we cannot accept a counted life.
How does it slip away?
How quickly time does stray!