case · 09 · not the watch — its insides

clockworks

the case is in another drawer. here is what is inside it: six brass wheels, a mainspring, a balance, a tiny escape. they argue, politely, about the second.

each wheel does part of the work of time; no wheel does all of it. when one slips, the watch becomes a watch that lies. when none slips, they tell never from always precisely once each turn.

field-note · the smallest gear is missing a tooth. it does not seem to mind.

watch · clock room · ticking · clockworks