Just a minute

The hand moves from XII to I

slows its arrival, lingers,

delays its departure from I,

clings to familiar things and habits.

The seconds pass

and the pull of I weakens

so the hand moves on,

gathers speed, heads towards II

then slows again

before touchdown.

Once at II the ritual is repeated.

Time is implacable

and drags the hand to III.

Each number shares a common core

of comfortable places,

homely and precious things.

At each we procrastinate

then forgetting what is past we leave,

press on, but any minute now

the clock will stop.