Grandfather Clock

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Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Grandfather Clock

#1 Post by Kenneth2816 » 31 May 2019, 08:00

For years, they have lived
like mice, grey and quiet.
Behind the blank face,
Behind the scissor -pincer hands.

they make a home among
the wheels and dials, the weight
and pulley inside my head.

At night, a phantom shares
my bed, the faint rise and fall
of her breath, the porcelain
skin cold to the touch.

The clock strikes one I rise
to watch them ascending
and descending like angels
on a ghost ladder.

Three blind nines:
Cut off their tails
with a folding knife.
They all become zeroes.
the hour is at hand

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Grandfather Clock

#2 Post by BobBradshaw » 01 Jun 2019, 09:48

What a fascinating take...I take the mice to be memories, and associated with the phantom that shares the N’s bed— the phantom someone once close to the speaker.

Fresh imagery as well as a fresh way to tell a familiar story... very creative. A big thumb’s up.

I like the sinister turn at the end, the attempt to deal with the past, with these dreadful memories.

Of course, I have maybe misread this... even so, the tone achieved in this poem is remarkable.

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Grandfather Clock

#3 Post by Kenneth2816 » 01 Jun 2019, 11:07

Thanks. Bob. I like a little dark sometimes

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: Grandfather Clock

#4 Post by SivaRamanathan » 01 Jun 2019, 19:23

I like the last stanza very much.And also the penultimate stanza.

meenas17
Posts: 822
Joined: 23 Mar 2014, 11:27

Re: Grandfather Clock

#5 Post by meenas17 » 01 Jun 2019, 20:03

I see an analogy to the famous rhyme " Hickory Dickory Dock".
Enjoyed the whole poem, Ken.
meenas17

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Grandfather Clock

#6 Post by Kenneth2816 » 02 Jun 2019, 00:17

Siva. Thank you. Would love to hear more about your book and where to get it in Palaver

Meenas. That's what it is. Plus Three Blind Mice. I tried to put them both in there. Thank you

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: Grandfather Clock

#7 Post by Michael (MV) » 03 Jun 2019, 03:59

Hi kenneth

"Behind the blank face,
Behind the scissor -pincer hands"

^^ kinda Tim Burton

Behind the blank face
and Edward scissor hands.


like the morph of 9 to a 0
by way of the old *tale*


😎

Michael (MV)

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Grandfather Clock

#8 Post by Kenneth2816 » 03 Jun 2019, 11:43

Thank you Michael. I didn't think about Edward scissor hands, but appreciate the similarity. Old tale indeed.

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