Here Are Your Instructions

In a used book shop on Pennywell Road
with precipitous shelving, you'll find
a section marked Impracticalities
and there, on the bottom shelf,
the watchmaker's grimoire:
How to Make Your Own Paper Clock.

"Cut along the dotted-line patterns
for cogs, levers and springs. . . .
Assemble 1,000 parts.
Flick into motion.
Listen as book-time begins."

It runs a little slower and sweeter
than regular time. Only a few eternal
stories repeat themselves; it makes
no difference if you read the end first.

by Linden Ontjes