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Wonderland III: The Watchmaker's Tale

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Originally published: 28th June 2020

Image by gR

This poem was placed 1st in the "STRAND COMPLETELY NEW (2) any theme any form" contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 29th June 2020)

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With my thanks and apologies to Lewis Carroll and Geoffrey Chaucer.

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THE WONDERLAND SERIES

I:      Prologue
II:    The Hatter's Tale
III:   The Watchmaker's Tale
IV:   The Hairdresser's Tale
V:    The Chef's Tale
VI:   The Sailor's Tale
VII:  The Preacher's Tale
VIII: Conclusion

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Morning

Having sighed a great sigh
He perused all his tools
From the mainsprings and tweezers
To the wheels and the jewels.

He removed the large case latch
From the pocket watch cover
To survey all the insides
As he would any other.

He wasn't familiar
With a watch of that kind
And confused why the workings
Ran two days behind.

He adjusted his loupe lens
And then gasped at least twice
At the solid gold workings
Inside the device.


Noon

He rang up the owner
Who was due to arrive
At the shop to collect it
At twelve twenty-five.

"OK I will fix it
In time for your date
But as it's important
I'm upping my rate."

The owner grew worried
And made it quite clear
By accepting the offer
Amid cries of "Oh Dear!"

The watchmaker laughed
As he put the phone down.
He could now spend the extra 
That night in the town.


Night

Once inside of The Tabard
He ignored his bad health
And turned to his drinking
To help pardon himself.

Having switched all the gold
In the watch for cheap tack
He swapped some for whisky
With a man in the back.

On his way home he stumbled
Through the storm and the wind
Tripping over a cat
Who'd appeared and just grinned.


Later That Night

Slumped under a tree
And left gasping for air
The watchmaker's own time
Stopped right then and there.

Copyright © Gary Radice | Year Posted 2020

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John Watt Date: 7/20/2022 4:22:00 PM This series is really fun for me, trying to gather clues culled from the Wonderland characters ("oh dear" from the white rabbit, and the cat that "just grinned") but also piecing together the interconnecting points between your poems and characters. Loved the "watchmaker's time stopped right then and there". Great job on these! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 7/21/2022 1:41:00 AM Hi John. I'm reading the poem through again as I type to see what my mind was up to at the time :) Yes!! You are right John: The white rabbit (His sigh of "Oh Dear!"..His watch 2 days behind. Set on 12.25 (Disney's pocket watch was anyway)..mentioned a date the rabbit is going on..) Yes.. The Cheshire Cat grinning.....The line: "And turned to his drinking To help pardon himself." - The Pardoner whose tale's moral is that the love of money is the root of all evil. I didn't stick to the Chaucer's narrative too much but mentioned gold, death and the idea of dying beneath the tree - the root. I think that's it. :) I really appreciate you having the stamina to read them. Cheers - Gary

Geoffrey Brewer Date: 12/5/2020 6:29:00 AM Poetic justice! Thanks for the entertainment of these tall tales, Gary. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/5/2020 7:18:00 AM :) Thanks Geoffrey! I'm glad you enjoyed these tales. Cheers - Gary

Beryl Edmonds Date: 11/20/2020 3:06:00 PM Another fabulous write Gary, the watchmaker’s demise was the result of his crime, which was worse than him doing time... Belle Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 11/22/2020 1:35:00 PM Belle, I wish I had thought of the idea of him 'doing time' - a great line. Cheers - Gary

Linda Alice Fowler Date: 10/25/2020 6:29:00 AM Love this Gary. My step-dad a watchmaker, I loved watching him work with all the tiny little pieces. I don't believe he ever found solid gold though. ;) Linda Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 10/25/2020 9:30:00 AM Thank you Linda! :) Your step dad must be / have been so skilled - I really admire abilities and skills like that. I liked the idea of telling a story behind the white rabbit's watch stuck on 12.25 and running two days behind and just letting my imagination wander. :) Cheers - Gary

Suzanne Jones Date: 10/14/2020 1:08:00 AM Really like how you cleverly interweave the stories in your poems with the rhyming sections which gives them a traditional feel. I really enjoyed reading all four and am not surprised of your competition win! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 10/14/2020 2:06:00 AM Hi Suzanne. Thanks so much for your lovely, encouraging comments. I enjoy interweaving poems where I can and referring to the classics and mixing it all up a bit for a bit of fun :) As well as Alice, this particular poem relates to The Pardoner's Tale (slightly) with themes of "the love of money is the root of all evil" (hence the tree where he died etc) I plan 6 of these poems in all- if I ever get round to them. :) Cheers - Gary

Aditi Mishra Date: 7/1/2020 8:54:00 AM Such a witty tale of the watchmaker Gary. Enjoyed reading it with those vivid details Congratulations on your win :) Keep writing and inspiring! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 7/1/2020 10:08:00 AM Thank you for your lovely comments Aditi. Cheers :) Gary.

Hilo Poet Date: 6/29/2020 10:33:00 PM An entertaining composition that left me smiling, well-penned indeed, my friend, Gary, also, my compliments for your efforts for being recognized, achieving 1st Place, Kudos! -- Aloha~@William Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 6/30/2020 3:21:00 AM Thank you William for dropping by and for your lovely comments. I like the idea of making up backgrounds to the characters' stories in Alice in Wonderland. :)