GRANDFATHER CLOCK

"When granda died
he turned into
a clock!"

I was only four or more
so this seemed
an acceptable fact

"Oh we still kept him
in the corner
wound him up every night."

I glanced at the nothing
in the corner
only a slab of sunlight dozing

"Oh we had to pawn him
a long time ago!"
I gasped: "Noooo!"

"Oh he had to go
he had only one hand
and his pendulum was broken."

Sam the dog barks
asks if I am coming
out to play

I of course am
coming out
to play

Auntie Nellie
scolds
Uncle Michael

"For God's sake Mikey
will ya ****** well
stop!"

Mikey sticks
his tongue in cheek
a characteristic tic

"Can't ya see the poor child's
ejeet enough
to believe ya!"

whenever later
I chance to meet
a clock that could be my granda

I touch its face
tenderly stroke
the mottled glass


"Ahhh Granda!" I smile
giving him
a great big hug

"TickTock!"
says granda
"**** ****!"