Dig up
the corpse of a clock
come alive
gasping at all
the years
it had lain
underground
gasping at roots & stones
woodlice & earthworms.
He had forgotten
it had ever known
the sun.
Now, clasped
like Yorick’s skull
in my open palm
(dirt creeping under
the fingernails)
It holds
the bitter twisted hands
to an eternal
12 of the clock
becoming a screaming
Edvard Munch.
Alas poor clock
it’s hard to tell
its original colour
one last flake of red
pronouncing its shade.
I plant an iris
in its place.
Next day I give it
pride of place
in the centre
of my garden
Recording loudly
the ticking of my present
clock
leaving the tape recorder
hidden amongst rocks
laughing as it shocks
passerbys
with its talk
of tick & tocks.
Sunlight slowly sifting the seconds
as time passes through
...& through us.
The dead clock
(alive again)
& the present clock
(seemingly only sound)
ticking off the minutes
scolding the hours
in a surreal
ventriloquism.
And look
an iris blossoms.
Dónall Dempsey
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/digging-time/