THE OLD TOWN CLOCK

By Josephine K. Henry
Versailles, KY

There’s a stately public building
on the main street of the town
In which every citizen owns a
share of stock
And in the tower of this “Temple
of Justice”
Is the permanent office of the
old town clock

For generations political wars
have raged around it
Waged by candidates active,
smiling and bland
But the old town clock never
went into politics
And is still doing business at
the same old stand

It never wore a political collar
or a union labor badge
But in the business and home
life of the town its a power
It has never asked for a raise of
salary for its services
Though it goes out on a strike
every hour

For generations its looked down
on court day crowds,
It has seen lusty youths change
to tottering old men
It has rung out the old and rung
in the new
Officials court and councils
again and again.

It has chimed the hour for weddings
and political harangues
It pealed a welcome home for
our soldiers boys who fought
and bled
For generations to public worship
it has solemnly called,
And tolled a requiem as we bore
our loved ones to the “City of
the Dead.”
The old town clock is a helpful
friend to all
But it never meddles with the
public or private affairs of
the people
It speaks eloquently to all in a
language all its own,
And attends strictly to its own
business up in the steeple.
Oft when sleepless and restless
in the silence of the night,
As thought wanders back o’er
Life’s tortuous track
When the old clock’s pensive
strokes float o’er the sleeping
town
Then the mind is thronged with
memories and lost years come
stealing back,
In summer and in winter, by
day and by night
Whether our hearts are filled
with gladness or with sadness
The old clock never halts on its
winding way.

Through all the hours, weeks,
months and years,
When the old clock strikes the
die is cast.
Into the tideless everlasting
hours have flown
Reminding us life’s tide is ebbing
out so fast.
Oh, loyal public servant, sleep-
Less sentinel in the tower
When the treasure house of
memory I unlock
My heart wells up with gratitude
and veneration
For the every faithful Old Town
Clock.

Click here to get informations in german!