wheels turning as they do

we never asked for more than just plain time
but when we paused the crowd laughed at our shock
we learned too soon its passage was the crime

the sun descends so quickly from its prime
and others gather far too soon to mock
we never asked for more than just plain time

doors slam before the last bell ends its chime
we hear the key work swiftly in each lock
we learned too soon its passage was the crime

we thought it summer and then we saw the rime
of frost on water at the empty dock
we never asked for more than just plain time

someone had told us of the great sublime
movement of white birds in their airy flock
we learned too soon its passage was the crime

this was the price for a too rapid climb
an early fall and a swift loss of stock
we never asked for more than just plain time
we learned too soon its passage was the crime