The Hung Clock

 

Within the openness of midnight,

this time canonized as most important,

where the tract of the sky

is close to the color of pitch-blend.

Above the bookshelf, 

upon a hanger,

at an easy angle for viewing,

is displayed the front of this clock. 

A fatherly sage watchdog,

within this room, 

in the artificial light, 

within the hothouse atmosphere,

it serves as the manager 

of echoing cathedral sounds.

After each windup,

it chooses the sound,

noise or song.

 The higher pitched ding-dong 

from any woodwind,

the tenor end of a pipe organ,

the comfortable sound of  

the trumpeter of a ship’s horn.

And in syncopation with its voice,

a couple dancing through a minuet,

other small figures

riding atop a carousel of horses.

As early morning nears,

it chimes hourly

in anticipation of 

each new day’s promise.

  Linda Imbler

Linda Imbler is a Wichita, Kansas based author. 178 poetry publications have accepted work from this poet.  Linda has been nominated for 2 Pushcart Prizes and 7 Best Of The Nets.  In 2025, she was nominated and accepted into the Marquis Registry of Who’s Who In America for her work in poetry. She has self-published twelve poetry books.   Soma Publishing has published her four e-book collections, The Sea’s Secret Song; Pairings, a hybrid of short fiction and poetry; That Fifth Element; and Per Quindecim. Examples of Linda’s poetry and a listing of publications can be found at lindaspoetryblog.blogspot.com