the cosmic clock

ponies and toys
to cars and boys

the cosmic clock
it goes tick-tock
tick-tock

guitars and beer
to Shakespeare and Lear
to manhood and fear

the cosmic clock
it goes tick-tock
tick-tock

rich days in the office
or poor days in the sun:
happiness or unhappiness
tasks done or undone

the cosmic clock
it will not talk;
it goes tick-tock
tick-tock

lovers and friends
or lonely book-ends:
in the heart of battle
or above the fray
and which is better?
and who's to say?

not the cosmic clock
it does not talk,
it goes tick-tock

The deluded strength
and action of youth,
to weak knees and impotent truth,
not by minutes or years
but by how we live,
or how much we give,

by which we choose of a thousand doors
if we die of stress or sleep with whores,
but all must go
however strong or smart,
leaving riches or off-spring
or kingly art

the cosmic clock
it does not care
no good or evil does it bear;
it favors not fear
nor the eloquent gift of a cock

it does its job
goes tick-tock
tick-tock