Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WINDING THE CLOCK, by GRACE ATHERTON DENNEN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WINDING THE CLOCK, by                    
First Line: The silence that had fallen stark between us
Last Line: Turned, turned -- and felt the willing wheels respond.
Subject(s): Clocks; Quarrels; Time; Arguments; Disagreements


The silence that had fallen stark between us,
After the heat and flame of hostile words,
Was broken by the striking of the clock:
One-two -- eleven strokes it made.
The slave of custom, I arose to wind it.
Then, a wonder!
I was aware of Time's vast cycle flowing
Endlessly, endlessly, through the vibrant night.
My hand upon the clock face seemed to catch
And hold this fateful moment of our quarrel.
There it hung poised between gold yesterdays
And black tomorrows, poisoned, evil thing,
To keep or cast away.
With haste, as one in fear, I seized the key,
Turned, turned -- and felt the willing wheels respond.





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