A Saying of the Old Duke of Ormond's, Versified

A Saying of the Old Duke of Ormond's, Versified

Original Text
Hope, a Poetical Essay -- With Various Other Poems (Belfast: Smith and Lyons, 1810): [111]-12.
I.

1Like an old clock, impaired by time,
2Neglected and forlorn I stand,
3The cheerful bells no longer chime,
4And motionless remains each hand.

II.

5The springs and wheels with rust o'ergrown,
6How faithful once, now matters not,
7How just each stroke, how clear each tone,
8How regular ... are all forgot.

III.

9Yet though old age destroys my power,
10Though dumb, forlorn, I bear each slight,
11Unvarying still, I point the hour,
12And once a day, at least, am right.

Notes

1] Title: possibly James Butler, second duke of Ormond (1665–1745). Back to Line
12] once a day: true of a 24-hour clock. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
abab
Form
quatrains