Escapement

Catch,
and pawl.
subdivide the circle.
in incremental steps,
through a pendulums
slow -
arc -

Catch,
and pawl.
Galileo watches
the chandelier
swinging slowly.
Timed
by his heartbeat,
arc -
and amplitude.
pulse -
and period.

Catch,
and pawl.
or a crown wheel,
toothed
catching the movement,
of time.

Catch,
and pawl.
a sound.
the spring
the weight
winding down
like a ball down a stair.
potential
sweeps the face
black numeraled.
enameled black hands
finger pointed
waiting
waiting.

Catch,
and pawl.
The black empty sky
not pin pierced
by stars.
no clue
no motion
no time.

Catch,
and pawl.
No moon
new
nor
full
nor
hunters
no waxing
no waning
above the city
of night.

Catch,
and pawl.
Caught
here,
a moment
like cats claws
in wool.

Catch,
and pawl.
clocks have faces
like people
and always
some part
concealed.

Catch,
and pawl.
Time passing
is the tearing sound
of teeth
biting seconds

Catch,
and pawl.
the scythe
and swish
of pendulums
endlessly falling
into darkness.