Hickory Dickory Dock

The ancient clock of oak and brass
With weighted chimes of polished glass
A whiskered mouse began to climb
Hickory, dickory, dock.

It scurried up the steady beat
Past gears that turned in dark and heat
A daring and a timed feat
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Then with a shudder and a groan
The great bell made its single tone
The mouse, in panic, turned alone
Hickory, dickory, dock.

It fled back down the pendulum
Its tiny thrilling mission done
To where the shadows were its home
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Again upon the following day
The rodent chose the risky way
To scale the tower, tall and gray
Hickory, dickory, dock.

It climbed the face of silver hands
Across the time-kept, measured bands
And there upon the hour’s sands
Hickory, dickory, dock.

The mighty clock began to sound
Two ringing notes, profound and round
That shook the air and shook the ground
Hickory, dickory, dock.

The mouse took flight in sudden fright
A falling speck of fur and light
And vanished swiftly from the height
Hickory, dickory, dock.