He lurks on the playground, a shadow at recess, 

Brushing past me as I race toward the swings. 

He lifts a handful of summer fun from my pocket, 

Taking all my sunny pool days, scraped knees, and  

Family vacations, and folds them into his sleeve. 

Later, beneath the soft glow of my nightlights,   

He lingers outside my bedroom window,  

Taking fireflies from jars, and bedtime stories from shelves. 

My yawns carry me to sleep, as he collects the 

Hours between dusk and dawn like loose change. 

In the school hallways he lingers behind lockers, 

Quiet as the moon and quick as a flash. 

He plucks the late-night study sessions and sleepovers, 

Crushing them like petals in his fist, 

Gone before I realize they’re missing. 

At night, he sits with me while I stress, 

He tugs at the threads of who I might become, 

Replacing my aspirations with fears of failure. 

He devours the hours I’ve spent thinking about  

The dreams I’ve given up on and then vanishes without a trace.  

At graduation, he taps my shoulder softly, 

And while I look towards my future, he pockets 

My old friends and beloved teachers. Although, these memories  

Aren’t stolen immediately, instead, he lets them slowly fade away. 

He brings a new semester, taking the peace with him. 

In my cramped apartment, he moves like the wind 

Through deadlines, college classes, and job applications. 

The calendar on my desk becomes his hunting ground,  

But he doesn’t have to work very hard because I’m 

Offering hours like tips, unaware of how much I’ve already paid. 

Now, he walks beside me openly, with no need for shadows. 

I’m aware of all the moments he’s stolen from me,  

And how light my memory has become, but I know 

You can’t win a battle against time. And maybe, the memories 

Worth keeping the most, time himself cannot steal.