When Time Came Knocking and Said “Get Over Yourself” (Revisionist Shakespeare – Sonnet 15 for Gen X)

When I look around at everything that’s growing,
I see it shines for a damn short little while;
Every so-called perfect thing keeps slowly going,
Then gets wrecked by time’s relentless, crooked smile.

The whole damn world’s a stage with cheap-ass lighting,
Where every living thing plays its temporary role;
The clock keeps swinging, constantly fighting,
While stealing pieces of every heart and soul.

And yeah, I’m in this messed-up war with Time for you,
Watching it take your shine, your fire, your prime;
But I’ll hack this fading world and make something new,
A middle finger raised against the hands of time.

So while this crazy universe keeps tearing things apart,
I’ll save your story — tattooed forever in my heart.