Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SUNDIAL, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS Poet's Biography First Line: The sundial said to the daylight-saving clock Last Line: Sticks to the truth in a world of lies. Subject(s): Time | ||||||||
The Sundial said to the Daylight-Saving Clock: "I stand for Truth as steady as a rock. Nothing but the Truth do I dare to testify; Men may bid me cheat, but I will -- not -- lie. Lying is a mortal sin, cheating is a crime; I alone of all the world keep the proper time." The Daylight-Saving Clock to the Sundial said: "When the sun goes down you are dead, dead, dead. Tied like a log to this rolling ball, Only half of time do you tell at all. I testify to the Truth of Health, Speak the Truth of Happiness, tell the Truth of Wealth. Yours is the Truth of a dull routine, Just the Truth of Matter, of the Sun Machine. Your literal Truth is crudely wrought; Mine is the Truth of the Higher Thought." But the Sundial still, in a manner proudly wise, Sticks to the Truth in a World of Lies. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ELEVEN EYES: FINAL SECTION by LYN HEJINIAN THE FATALIST: COME OCTOBER by LYN HEJINIAN THE FATALIST: HOME by LYN HEJINIAN THE FATALIST: TIME IS FILLED by LYN HEJINIAN SLOWLY: I FREQUENTLY SLOWLY WISH by LYN HEJINIAN ALL THE DIFFICULT HOURS AND MINUTES by JANE HIRSHFIELD A DAY IS VAST by JANE HIRSHFIELD FROM THIS HEIGHT by TONY HOAGLAND A BATTLE SONG (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR) by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS |
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