TIME MARCHES ON ***, FREE VERSE Options

[Maureen]

TIME MARCHES ON





“I am leaving” he said.
“But before I go a gift,
to thank you for the good times,
the children, memories and marriage
and for friendship.”


His gift...a small traveling clock.
Pertinent I thought.

Did he think that time would not hang heavy on my shoulders?

Did he think I would not count each second he was gone?

Did he think that time would dull the pain?

Who knows what he thought?
Did he think?

Time has passed and the clock no longer ticks.
The hands unmoving...
Time stands still.
Frozen in time...
always twenty to four.

Twice a day the time is correct
so the clock is still useful.

It is also a very pretty little clock –
pleasing in appearance
colour coordinated with my bedrooms décor.
Nothing about it not to like

Must be why it remains at my bedside.
Even though it doesn’t work now.

After 30 years, of dusting it,
always replacing it faithfully in the same spot
where I can see its unmoving dial
today it jogged a memory in time.
This is it.

Time marches on.

So have I.




Maureen Clifford ©

[Psyche]

Ah, clocks... I can relate to this one, Maureen. Nearly every line struck some part in my heart-mind.

I love the way you've handled time in the layout of your poem. Your piece moves forward in time.

I may have a couple of nits, but would rather take another look. Just enjoy it now, even tho' it tugs at threads in one's memory.

BTW, I've also kept other objects, not many, gifts from various loved ones over the years. And then I suddenly decide to move them, give them away, because they've ceased being meaningful in my life. Why dust them forever?

About the clock, it reminds me of my grandfather clock, which has been in the family for over a century. It had also stopped at a specific time, but one day I decided I would rather a different time, so I moved its hands! Next step is to get rid of it, shan't want to take it with me when I move house in the near future.

Will return asap. Do you need the comma 'after 30 years...'? I think it would be better placed after 'spot' or 'dial', to give the reader a breath. ToT!!

Cheers, Syl***

[Thoth]

Gidday Mau,

Yes, I also loved this one. Isn't it interesting how time cares not the slightest whether your clock is fast or slow or if it runs at all! My mother-in-law get more pre-occupied with time the older she gets. Quite sad really.

The end made me chuckle but I was half expecting the clock to be thrown against the wall. Must be a reason you never had it fixed all those years. Imagine it it suddenly began ticking again by itself - spooky!

Ta for the smiles

Cheers,

Wal

[saore]

Very nice, I like the way the poem progresses. I think it could be tighter.

Saore

[Eisa]

Hi Maureen

I thought I'd commented on this - it really made me smile. How true it is!


Who knows what he thought?
Did he think?


These lines really made me chuckle!

After 30 years, of dusting it,
always replacing it faithfully in the same spot
where I can see its unmoving dial - Perhaps a comma or semicolon here
today it jogged a memory in time.
This is it.


we do keep all kinds of stuff for sentimental reasons. I did with my mother. Then one day realised that I could live without most of them. I suppose time heals

Really enjoyed this

Snow

[Maureen]

Thanks everyone for you kind comments - Apologies for my tardiness in responding to your responses - I overlooked it . Getting old is a bitch, my memory wanders off on tangents of its own sometimes.