Wheels within wheels

I’ve never really considered myself the steampunk type, but perhaps I’ve been in denial.

We visited Rachel Reilly in her shop, Facets of Avalon, in Glastonbury this morning. Every time we see Rachel she has made something amazing and new. The latest project was a couple of pairs of ear-rings made from old watch-parts. It was love at first sight! I rummaged in the bag of bits and commissioned a pair for myself. A couple of hours later the photo below arrived in my inbox! The solid part is like an ear with its own piercings. I especially like the little labyrinth, bottom right, and the tiny star-wheel, bottom left.

I’ll be collecting them next week. Can’t wait!

This poem, written a couple of weeks ago, seems apposite. It was prompted by  hearing about John Taylor’s Chronophage on BBC Radio 4. The word means time-eater.

Time’s little hands
are taking us
tick by tock
unmaking us
they never stop
they pick the locks
prise open the box
unravel our secrets
minute by hour
an old press-cutting
of some wedding
a keepsake flower.

Time’s little teeth
gnaw and nibble
youth and truth
already gobbled
they eat our day-by-days
they have their ways
click-spring by jewel
ratchet by spindle
there’s no evading
there’s no escaping
the encroachment
of their escapement.

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