my grandfather's clock

sits on my mantle now
the seconds tick
how many since i noticed it
learned to tell time
understood how it slips and trips
as it passed me by, took me hostage?


i count in bundles of 5
10
15
20
25
30,35,40,45,50,55,60
another hour

another day
week
month
years i count in bundles of 5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50, going places i never wanted to be
doing things i never wanted to do
thinking things i never thought.
55...