Late: A Poem of Clock Watching

One technique of the poet is to create a persona from another point of view.

In this poem the viewpoint is from the clock on a wall. The clock is an omnipresent and all seeing character. Continually watching and being watched by the questioner, who has but one question, "Am I late?"

The clock's replies are various however, never repeating which adds to the surprise of the reader. Why should a machine be able to answer a seemingly mechanical question from the human questioner. It is a paradox. Who is the real machine in the poem?

Sample:

Am I late?
I watch you into work.
Am I late?
I tick away your break.
Am I late?

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