The child laughs,
riding the merry-go-round,
round and round in circles,
counting each lap—
one, two, three—
while the father stands at the side,
watching, unaffected,
unmoved by the numbers.
Once the rounds are over,
the father stretches out his hand,
welcomes his child into his arms,
and walks him home.

Today, yesterday, tomorrow—
week, month, year—
seconds, minutes, hours.
We count them,
name them,
chase them.
But what if time does not exist?
What if it is only a measure,
a count of circles,
round and round,
like the child running around
in front of his father?

The universe is a big playground,
round and round!
The world spins,
planets orbit,
galaxies swirl in endless motion—
round and round,
moon around earth,
earth around sun,
circles within circles.

But what if the Creator
is like the father of the child?
Unaffected by the laps,
unaffected by time?
What if the circling
round the cube in Mecca
is just a reflection of this?
What if to Him,
there is no such a thing as time?

What if time is only for us,
a way to mark our journey,
while He stands beyond it,
unbound, eternal,
watching the dance of creation?

When the child’s round..
at the merry-go-round was over,
the father stretches out his hand, to his son,
welcomes him into his arms,
and walks him home.

When our round come to a stop,
will we receive the welcome?
Will we walk home — to heaven?
Or will we be left
to wander in the shadows
of our own making?

By time,
indeed, mankind is in loss,
except for those who have believed,
done righteous deeds,
advised one another to truth,
and advised one another to patience.

 
Aydarus Ahmad Alhabshi
Jan 2025