Intricate interweaving of metal with metal,
Weblike patterns of crystal and fragile
Brass springs, manoeuvring their solitary way
Along predestinate paths, petal-
Like in their delicacy. For one minute immobile,
In position, then jumping to play
And poise themselves into elaborate
And ornamented arrays, each one
Balancing tension with the rest, each
Arriving not early, nor too late,
But in precision with the sun.
Gears that spin and turn and reach
Out in an attempt to complete the time
Of day, hustling their hurried hands around
As drying its face, to catch the hour, and sound
Its recent demise with a punctilious chime.

				             1977