Rainy days are sleepy days,
when sunshine hides her face,
beyond the cover of the clouds,
and counts it no disgrace.
"So, shall I sleep, or shall I wake?"
The question is so grave.
"Give me just one moment more,
as I that last dream save."
"Now where was I amidst that dream?"
The wonder of it bliss
I had rescued a fair princess,
about to give a kiss!
"Oh, curse you clock, and all that noise!"
My smile turns to a frown.
"Can't you see, I'm out right now?"
I'll push that button down
Have I done this once before?
My memory is hazy.
Have I pushed it once... or twice?
The question drives me crazy!
I must be up at six o'clock"
or else my duty shirk.
I'll take a squint with just one eye
and not be late for work.
"So which eye shall it be?" I say,
"to let in all that light...
the left one near the pillow,
or shall it be the right?"
"Or shall it be a little each,
to keep my mind in balance?"
Waking bright and fresh each day
is not among my talents!
"Oh clock, you wretched fiend!
It's nine o'clock, I see!
As time kept passing right along,
you have not wakened me!"
"So now I'm late for work again,
but this time you're to blame!
I only pushed that button once
before my waking came!"
I have no time to shower now;
or taste a bite to eat,
but just to get some clothes on,
and shoes upon my feet.
Now out the door into the drizzle,
wretched falling rain;
and race to work to save my job,
my head is throbbing pain!
"I'm sorry that I'm late again,"
I hear myself to say.
"I'll buy a new alarm clock;
and do it yet today."
So after work I make the trip
to the local store,
to buy a new alarm clock,
for I need nothing more.
Two items yet I buy'
as I go out the door;
one, a new alarm clock,
but then just one thing more.
"Oh 'Wretched One', I'm home again,
with a surprise," I say,
"I bought a new alarm clock,
I'm throwing you away!"
"But first I have a special treat,
a gift that justly fits!"
I drew a hammer from the bag,
and smashed that clock to bits!
Alas! The irony of it all;
It seems like such a crock!
amidst the many pieces,
It still says nine o'clock!
So as I picked up pieces,
and reach to pull the plug...
It was not in the wall at all,
but lay upon the rug!
Steve Hodgin
Copyright 1999
