Persistence of Memory

Time stops for nobody
We can tell the time at a glance Even upside down
Though not always in the mirror.
Two years past
An upturned watch face
Confronted me from my childhood jewellery box
I could not recollect it being mine
It was almost discarded
Tarnished
Still the gold glinted and worth a look
I turned it over
The box was clearly labelled
It was mine
How long have these faces been the same – time stuck – a memory ?
How long had this watch lain face down ?
Persistence in memory ?
I could not say
26 years at least since my mother could have put it there.
In my box
For me to find
I stare at the face
Try to ascertain when the time was last real.
To know the story
Resisting the urge to wind it on
I gaze at the champagne dial
I note the maker
Longines
Google does the rest.
1930s
Not Mum’s -her Father’s
Look again at how persistent the time is set
The urge to wind it is too great
I cannot resist
I turn the hands
In fluidity
I hear the tick watching them move Into the 21st century with Persistence drawn from the age of perfect movement .
It will look good on my wrist I note Trends favour the large dial
And cleaned, repaired so it does
From my grandfather to me
Persistence of memory.