Poems (Piatt)/Volume 2/"Stop the Clock"

by Sarah Piatt

"STOP THE CLOCK."

Let this red flower here on the cliff stay red;
 Let that glad bird sing always in the tree;
Let baby keep this pretty yellow head
 And these two dimples,—do you say to me?

Let these same clouds make this same sky all gold;
 Let these same strawberries last? (You'll tell me how?)
Let's take the world up in our arms and hold
 It where it is, and make forever now?

Let's sit here always in this wind and sun,
 And hear the water dripping from the rock?
Come, then, and tell me how it can be done.
 ———What, ho, within there! Some one stop the clock!