I wrote this kiddies' poem back in 1983, precisely forty years ago (published in Up to Bridge Forty, 1989). I hope your grandchildren enjoy it.

The Clock awoke and silence broke, thus morning was loudly proclaimed. The morning sky made plain the lie and the Clock was put to shame.

“Where’s the Sun? My night’s work’s done,” the Moon was heard to say. “He’s still in bed, the Morning said, “so I cannot begin the day!”

The Sentinel Cock was in a state of shock for he knew not whether to crow. But the big Barn Owl threw in the towel and decided that it was time to go.

So off they set with many a threat with the things that they’d do to the Sun. They found him in bed with his cap on his head and the Morning had still not begun.

“Wake up sleepy one, the Night is done and you’re still asleep in your bed! The Cock wants to crow, the Moon wants to go and there are cows to be milked in shed!”

He opened his eyes and to all’s surprised he said with a fearsome glower, “If you look at my clock, it might come as a shock but I’m not due up for an hour!”

“Now listen my friends, when the summertime ends, the clocks are put back one hour. So go back to bed and listen instead, to the clock that chimes in the tower.”

(Poem: Wake Up!)