Classic Poem

1

" T ICK-TOCK ! Tick-tock! "
Sings the great time-clock.
And the pale men hurry
And flurry and scurry
To punch their time
Ere the hour shall chime.
" Tick-tock! Tick-tock! "
Sings the stern time-clock.

" It — is — time — you — were — come! "
Says the pendulum.
" Tick-tock! Tick-tock! "
Moans the great time-clock.
They must leave the heaven
Of their beds. . . . It is seven,
And the sharp whistles blow
In the city below.
They can never delay —
If they're late, they must pay.
" God help them! " I say.
But the great time-clock
Only says, " Tick-tock! "

They are chained, they are slaves
From their birth to their graves!
And the clock
Seems to mock
With its awful " tick-tock! "
There it stands at the door
Like a brute, as they pour
Through the dark little way
Where they toil night and day.
They are goaded along
By the terrible song
Of whistle and gong,
And the endless " Tick-tock! "
Of the great time-clock.
" Tick-tock! Tick-tock! "
Runs the voice of the clock.

2

Some day it will cease!
They will all be at peace,
And dream a new dream
Far from shuttle and steam.
And whistles may blow,
And whistles may scream —
They will smile — even so,
And dream their new dream.

But the clock will tick on
When their bodies are gone;
And others will hurry,
And scurry and worry,
While " Tick-tock! Tick-tock! "
Whispers the clock.

" Tick-tock! Tick-tock!
Tick-tock! Tick-tock! "
Forever runs on the song of the clock!