There's a clock on the shelf in the old lady's house <br />and I have a bad feeling inside, <br />for it ticks and tocks and it chimes every hour <br />and I fear it marks time till she dies. <br /> <br />She sits all day long by the fire in a shawl, <br />knitting in rhythm to its beat. <br />and she seems quite oblivious to time passing by <br />as she stops now and then to make tea. <br /> <br />It's dark in her house and the furniture is old <br />the curtains are brown where they've aged. <br />I'd really like to stay but it's getting very cold <br />and the clock on the shelf says it's late. <br /> <br />She rocks in her chair, by the fire, most days, <br />knitting and watching the TV <br />Sometimes she will hum a funny little song, <br />then she'll talk to the cat or to me. <br /> <br />I bring her a newspaper every day <br />and a loaf of bread twice a week <br />On Sundays I stay for a lovely piece of cake <br />that she bakes extra specially for me! <br /> <br />Someday I'll be old like the frail lady there <br />I'll sit in my house all day long <br />I might have a cat and a big rocking chair <br />but I wont have an old chiming clock.<br /><br />Ruth Walters<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-old-chiming-clock/
