The clock stopped at a quarter til one
About the time when our school day was done
And the boys would have been
ready to fly
It hangs up high and when it was dead
I didn’t change batteries
but left it instead
And now time stands still,
a reminder of days gone by
Moments and memories
swirl in my head
of the things I did and the words I said
the could haves and should haves
the wishes and then the whys
If I let them, the voices will bury me
as I examine what I couldn’t then see
I could have done better but never imagined
So soon a goodbye
So I straighten my back and stiffen my neck
and leave the clock on the wall still unchecked
An odd form of penance,
a clock on the wall makes me cry