The Wooden Ventriloquist Clock

wood and strings turn the clock's
 involuntary response. 
hands set in motion with 
the turn of a wrist, 
 half past remembering 
the moment before.

 odd numbered time signatures 
pull a wooden head and hands to fold
like some pocketwatch prophet.
 who shudders for a moment, 
 then grows still waiting for the hour
or celestrial string to slacken 
and realease him.

 he is not his own but anothers.

course the hands that follow
 the grain of his expression, 
 waiting for fingers to grasp and 
guide him through his seasonal acts.

umbilical chorded gears ratchet
 in him to open wooden lips. 
the blackened ivory teeth play in minor. 

 severe and break.
 how he hangs there 
so still and without a sound.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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