Sometime in July

Have you ever sat in silence?

Just alone and quietly thinking

About a thing, just

Anything that's easy?

Well sometime in... July? December?

Last year, I think I remember,

I was on my bedroom's bed

Thinking of some sign's I'd read.

When I looked up and found another

It was round and on my wall

Though sitting there for tens of years

So sure I was that it was new.

The tear-streaked face read four and twenty

I thought it weird that it skipped plenty

Of time because I knew, or thought

The time, it was three--on the dot.

But I figured I just fell asleep

For, it was true that I was tired.

I thought I should get up right then.

Before I wasted any more time.

I looked to see that I'd seen right,

But, then the clock said "ten at night"

The hands, they skipped, around the face

I couldn't grasp the change of pace.

How could it be my time to bed, when

I'd just gotten home from school

I didn't sleep, I blinked my eyes

The clock told me "It is now noon."

Nine hours skipped and glist'ning face

Froze then in time and watched its pace.

My eyes, I swore, they never left

And, yet, somehow, I felt bereft.

The time ticked away faster faster

Before I knew, today's tomorrow

It was the next day, two days, next month

And, yet, I swore, I watched for minutes.

I watched my hair grow gray and fragile

I felt myself become less agile

My bones they withered, dried away

And soon, I felt, I'd lost my way.

My eyes, they opened. 3: 05

I sat up straight and felt more wise.

The clock on the wall was kind and slow

But fast enough for time to go.