Finding a Broken Clock on North Whitcomb
.
Bach fugues, August storm coming
And I think of the vintage cherry clock I found
Today on its back, with trash along the road–
Someone threw it out to stop time:
Nice try.
.
No one can do that, arrest the day, hold the light:
All angels are on standby while we
Take the dog down to the water,
Revive the garden, recover
From harsh words
Over a cat tottering around
At death’s doorstep.
.
Do you see how she,
Fading fast, is proof
That we need clocks with no hands?
.
Trinity Church’s organ peals out eternity
And leaf-spare branches
Scratch the window:
Open all the doors.
Let us all agree on what time it is
And file in to take our place;
.
Ring all of the bells–.
Take the grandfather clocks down to the bay
And scuttle them.
.
We have had fair warning:
Where we had wedding cake and dancing
Nightfall, owls calling
Who was here? —
More crisp and vagrant stars.
.
There is so much I like about how you developed this, Jenne, beginning especially with this line “Someone threw it out to stop time: / Nice try.” and moving through “Open all the doors. / Let us all agree on what time it is…” and concluding with that “fair warning” and memorable “owls calling / Who was here?”
How we romanticize time and its passage, want to stop it and start it over, are unable to hold onto it, and in the end are left only with questions….
Thanks, M– sent you a note…xxxj
A dying being doesn’t know what time it is…why should we as living beings be any different?
So much to ponder here. You have used such astounding images and you leave me pondering the meaning of time. I especially like the lines:
Trinity Church’s organ peals out eternity
and:
Take the grandfather clocks down to the bay
And scuttle them.
Again, I wish I could write like Jenne.
Gerry
I’m certain you write wonderfully, as Gerry. Thank you for your wonderful compliments and support, Gerry. xxxj
I wish I could write like Jenne too. I’m astonished most of the time at the imagery and feelings and questions you conjure.
You know, when you guys keep coming back and spurring me on it’s really wonderful, overwhelming, and humbling. I so immensely appreciate it. We all need each other and deserve to shine and bloom, yes? love, J
Thank you, sugar. As I’ve said, wish we lived closer— xxxj