The Old Clock
It saddened Tess that the villagers were so cruel.
Old Elidh, nought but scrawny skin and bone,
Reviled and outcast in her far lonely home
To face her parting moments alone.
Ah lovely young Tess! Fair of form and heart.
Elidh’s plight had touched her very core
She travelled through the tangled Weirding Woods
Braving the paths that wound by river’s roar...
One dried and withered - bowed down at last by time.
The other bright - full of life young and gay.
Elidh talked of her life and Tess her hopes and dreams.
Tess and Eildh, long they talked that final day.
The fire burned gently with the wood Tess had brought,
Filling the small room with warmth of flames licking,
While the old wooden clock on the warping wall,
Filled the silences with its ever gentle ticking.
The lovingly carved clock had Tess fair entranced
“What keeps me going is the tick and the tock,�?BR>Said Elidh with a conspirital glance,
“The company of my ticking clock!�?/FONT>
“You can keep it, my dear, for your kindness�?-
(Young Tess was fairly taken with delight!)
“When I am gone and have no further need.�?BR>And so they talked into the gathering night.
It was a bright deed by this virgin flower,
That Elidh have her final hours in such kindness spent.
Growing ever weaker hour by passing hour.
And so, as the clock struck two old Elidh went.
Come the morn, Tess did what needed done
And returned to the cottage and the clock espied.
It had stopped on the hour of two exact.
At the moment it, seemed, that old Elidh died.
She resolved then to leave it but hear it just once.
As she wound it she realised she was oh so tired.
She placed her finger on the hand and moved it on.
Oh! Never had sleep been more desired.
So sleepy - A great weariness befell.
Slowly the hand moved on �?So weary�?BR>The weariness of old bones �?the ache of age
Slowly the hand moved on �?So weary�?/FONT>
A weariness of old mind’s creaking.
As sense of fading and a lowering of skies.
The clock ticked and - young Tess dropped her head.
The girl smiled sly as young Elidh opened her new eyes.
Copyright Gordon A. MacIntyre, 13/10/08
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