DAYLIGHT SAVING

                           DAYLIGHT SAVING

                                               - for Pam

                                   I do the dutiful thing and turn my clocks
                                   forward - or back - but then I conjure
                                   an extra twelve minutes, nudge them in
                                   to fatten the middle of the hour
                                   giving myself a little extra

                                   Time to play with.

                                   I am rebel. Thief.

                                   A friend and I agree that Time

                                   and second hands should be tied

                                   behind the backs of doors, banished

                                   bound with flat faces pressed

                                   to the corner. We flip Time around

                                   our wrists, make it lie down. 

                                   I tell her I once knew a clock 

                                   with eyes instead of hands. 

                                   It kept watch from a clean white mantlepiece 

                                   in a honey-coloured room.

                                   We listen for chimes outside

                                   the window and when the wind blows

                                   in the right direction, hear Time trip

                                   down the cathedral steps and take

                                   to the streets.

                                   I am tempted to wave as it passes.

                                   CB 2002

Daylight Saving

DAYLIGHT SAVING
for Pam & R O'N-D


I do the dutiful thing
and turn my clocks forward
- or back - but then I conjure up
an extra twelve minutes, nudge them in
to fatten the middle of the hour,
giving myself a little extra
Time to play with.

I am rebel. Thief.

A friend and I agree that Time
and second hands should be tied
behind the backs of doors, banished
bound with flat faces pressed
to the corner. We flip Time around
our wrists, make it lie down. I tell her
I once knew a clock with eyes
instead of hands. It kept watch
from a clean white mantlepiece
in a honey-coloured room.

We listen for chimes outside
the window and when the wind blows
in the right direction, hear Time trip
down the cathedral steps and take
to the streets.

We are tempted to wave as it passes.


CB 2002