Adrienne Rich — A Clock in the Square

This handless clock stares blindly from its tower, Refusing to acknowledge any hour, But what can one clock do to stop the game When others go on striking just the same? Whatever mite of truth the gesture held, Time may be silenced but will not be stilled, Nor we absolved by any one’s withdrawing From all the restless ways we must be going And all the rings in which we’re spun and swirled, Whether around a clockface or a world.