cease the ticking

* cease the ticking *
If we were to lay down clocks
Abandon timepieces all
Remove those judges self made
Of how long we have to do
Limits which we may spend
Those executioners of moments and minutes
Calendars of our age
Arbitrators of our work and play
Which objectively thin slice our day
Set our events to working week
Stipulate the time for weekend retreat
If we could lay them down
Turn them to face the wall
Stop and muffle all pendulums
Remove hands from numbered face
Detach the power which allows These mechanical glowing monsters
To hold us in their thrall
Instead return to season marks
The four alone our time march pass
No greater division than these we need
To know when to plough
When to reap or sow the seed
Or when to turn indoors
For nights are long and air cold
Is not the weather for
The infirm or those growing old
As we pass the time undriven by
Concerns of every minute spent
Instead relentless pace relents
Allow to find moments peaceful
Between dawn glow and dusk dim
No other signals need we trust
To measure our lives as they pass
Except life's dawn chorus loud
And gentle growing stillness of our dusk.