In Coffee Spoons

Time
measured in sunlight and shadow
measured in sand
measured in water

measured in the oscillation
of cesium atoms,
dancing to the tune
that entropy sings—

weighed out like sugar,
disbursed in coin,
meted out in judgment,
lives passing in sections
and segments

assessments of who’s too old
and who’s too young,
time parceled out
divided

instead of lived.