Fake news, Perfectly timed May 17, 2020

I suspect the old clock on the mantle

runs slow on purpose

she ticks faster when

I pick her up even before

twisting her little copper nose

and nudging the arms a bit which

she always applauds with a single chime

in a few days though she’ll be “sick” again

dragging along begging with that face

of hers for help with a hand around

her shoulder and some doctoring

I carry her back to the present

oh I know she’s fooling with me

the weakness is mine always

giving time the benefit of the doubt