Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OLD BRASS CLOCK, by MARY CROMER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OLD BRASS CLOCK, by                    
First Line: Within the cracked and scarred mahogany frame
Last Line: Clangs through the house.
Subject(s): Clocks; Time


Within the cracked and scarred mahogany frame,
Black figures on the metal face
Stare out of a faded rose wreath;
In the dim, crude gilt on the glass door
One scarcely sees the peasant women gathering faggots.

The tarnished brass wheels keep turning;
The lead weights sinking;
The pendulum swinging --
After almost a century,
"Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. --"
The yellowed mark says,
"Brass clock,
Warranted good."

At night,
A little old woman,
Bent, wrinkled, white-haired;
Blue eyes strained and dim;
Cheeks still soft and pink, --
Stands on a chair to wind the clock. --
"Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock --"
It strikes;
Loudly the harsh, business-like tone
Clangs through the house.





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