The watchmaker

The watchmaker and I
sat in amiable warmth
the ticking of the clock,
its brass fixtures a gleam
with the final ray of
autumn sun come to rest.

A fire crackled and popped
in an old stone cottage
where countryside was
a verdant, lush green.
We watched flames rustle
finding pieces of
conversation that years
ahead would be rehashed.

When he laughed, he wheezed
a belly flop of mirthful noise
caught up in the choking
of a chainsmokers cough.
Silver and candlelight
lit a dim room, as evening
brought its dark and gloom.

We explored boundaries
of a tenuous relationship
as hands now roughened
spoke of filligree and gold,
accounts of life still to be
reckoned, he beckoned
with humour in a cold room.

A yard arm at six
as stiffened he rose
poured hefty measures
topped with a sigh,
as another day goes by
and we're familiar strangers
lives entangled by
sheer coincidence

of bonds that would one day
break, threads of finest gold
on a chain where
once the clasp is broken
all those nebulous feelings
of self and belonging
are as fragile as a
whispered goodbye
to a watchmaker
who once shone pebbles
he collected on the beach






Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 673 times
Written on 2008-03-25 at 10:19

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Chris Fernie
Dear E,

Like the watchmaker's masterpiece, I put my hands together and applaude probably your finest masterpiece to date... only time will tell, of course.

With chimes of love,

Chris xxxxx
2008-03-27


Peter Humphreys The PoetBay support member heart!
As the poem flows, you become enmeshed and enthralled by this encounter which moves from past through present to "finding pieces of conversation that years ahead would be rehashed". It would be so good if they were because such encounters should not perish, like pebbles "collected on a beach". Wonderful writing.
2008-03-27


Rik The PoetBay support member heart!
Can not say it any better than Jeherico. Although i will add i did also really enjoy the read and i am running off for my dictionary too!
2008-03-25