=Thirteen Hours=

The clock at school
starts off early too.
Eight at the gate
means you're late.

The bell after class
is not so fast, alas.
When it chimes at twelve,
I'm already out for lunch.

The sun at noon,
the sun at one,
the shadows at two,
are they longer now?

The bus at three
departs never at three,
arrives late as always,
but still before four.

The train at four
arrives some minutes before
and departs a precise
four minutes after.

A girl I saw
boarding at my door
stopped time with a song
from five till four.

The stop at five,
North Haven Drive,
there she alights
and that is all.

The walk at six
as the evening wakes
sees the sun recede
into my reverie.

Dinner at seven,
neither hell nor heaven
tempts my appetite
when I say grace.

Chores at eight,
homework awaits,
fluorescent lights awash
on paper and plate.

TV at nine,
any channel's fine.
The remote is out
of batteries again.

Online at ten,
who's on MSN?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Time to blog.

The time at eleven
is binary for twelve.
It's midnight already,
too late to tell.