centuries ago
it seems
since
I kept a timepiece
strapped
round a pulsing circulation
a merry go round
like the faces of clocks
swung the pendulum
at 13
joined the throng of
serious watchers of
the stroke
midnight
quarter hours
divisions by 60
on the dot
never later than they said
tut tut tutting
ticking off
tardiness was next to sinfulness
still is
a rebuff to any arrangement
waiting at the altar on the tarmac by the platform clock
time was though when it was boundary for me
safety net for them
the therapy room clock subtly seconding each unspoken moment
timepiece is my heart beat now
I need no other monitor of passing
Joining Melissa for her Poetics prompt: Unpunctuated in which we do away with all those guiding symbols of pause and meaning
PoetryPix 
I love this time piece (pun intended!) Laura. I’m a punctual person and your poem resonated with me, especially:
‘tardiness was next to sinfulness
still is
a rebuff to any arrangement
waiting at the altar on the tarmac by the platform clock’
and
‘timepiece is my heart beat now
I need no other monitor of passing’.
thank you for your appreciation Kim – I too am punctual but I have not worn a watch for years – so now my inner clock is accurate to within a few minutes
You’re welcome, Laura.
You handled the prompt sans punctuation in a timely fashion
thanks for noticing the play on the word prompt
The theory chair revelation is brilliant – it goes with the exploring narrative – Jae
By which I mean therapy – sorry!
of course – often I wish it were possible to edit comments after posting for only then do I notice my typos 😦
Thank you Laura!
thank you for your astute observation Jae
sadness of stroke, and passing. the altar, the tarmac,
the boundary and safety net dichotomy is perfect and personal.
this is best: “the therapy room clock subtly seconding each unspoken moment”
many thnaks for your appreciation
I like the way your poem keeps time, Laura, in its flow and rhythm, line breaks. And the sense of summation or finality, an “ending” on acceptance that all we have (and don’t) is time.
thank you Melissa and for the prompt which set the poem ticking
Tardiness takes on a new meaning in Asia but it has taught me a lot of patience. I stopped wearing watches because everyone else had one. If I needed to know the time I would ask someone. It seems weird to spend a lot of money on something that gives you information that is easily found for free. Nice write, Laura 👏
thanks Shaun
Your title has produced a rash of puns in your commenters, Laura, I loved this meditation on time.
I haven’t forgotten about Barbara Hepworth and i will be in touch about it…
the pun arrived promptly on seeing the prompt and the poem followed shortly after 😉
p.s. good to see you back as it were and for the heads up on Hepworth
A nice twist on the prompt, Laura. Punctual seems to be a defining moment for many. I loved the therapy clock ticking off the hours.
many thanks Dwight – its another punctilious behaviour we have let slip these days!
Yes, you are right! You are very welcome!
I love your take on the prompt. You saw punctual in unpunctuated. I kept misreading the prompt as unpunctured. It led you to timepieces, and led me to balloons.
many thanks Maggie – the different perspectives on prompts is what I enjoy most about our dVerse gatherings – your excellent poem being a case in point!
Wonderful, this tale of time keeping. A happy ending, no time pieces anymore!
thank you – its a bit of a theme for me
What a beautifully written poem! Well done 🩵
many thanks – I’m intrigued by your name!
Your pauses punctually punctuate your well timed verse, Laura!
thanks for noticing as without punctuation this punctual poem only had that
You are welcome, Laura. Your poems always have a lot going.
Love your twist on the prompt, as well as that splendid ending!
thank you for your feedback Sara
Bravo! 👏🏾👏🏾