one minute behind

Photo by Arif DALKIRAN on Unsplash

it begins Friday

grandfather

one minute late

every

Friday

 

hour

quarter

half

three-quarter

again

one minute

behind

 

Saturday

Sunday

tardy

still

one minute

 

on Monday

I reset grandfather

early evening

every

Monday

 

I unlatch his pendulum case

grab his key

access his face

moon

stars

hands

housed in the hood

 

quarter hour chime melodies

time keeper

hour strike count

I turn his key

pendulums

to the top of their cables

ascend

 

I adjust

his minute hand

chime selection lever

return his key

latch his case doors

pendulums

face

 

hour

quarter

half

three-quarter

my corner posted grandfather keeps watch

Monday through Thursday

punctual

11 July 2026

Cindy B. Stevens