Tick

(By Vivian Richmond)

"Time," I've heard, "is a silver pocket watch.
God, the great Time-Keeper. He, the One,
winds our lives with thumb and finger twist."

Pray you to the hand that holds the watch.
One and only snaps the lid tight shut,
cutting off our ever sorry lies.

Drop a bottle cap, and you will not
hear the Tick of Time. A wristwatch may
Tick just so, as penny 'gainst the dime.

Time's great Tick is thund'rous loud. Fear
stroke and gong of monstrous Notre Dame.
It is coming, fast and strong. Time

does not stop for likes of you and I.
Death comes marching, link by link, a chain
lying in the open palm of God's right hand.

Tock.