defect in

he did not understand
why the birds did not sing
or why the sun rose later.

he did not understand
if the hands on the clock
read 8, then why
were they all acting
as if it were 7?

he did not understand.

his insides told him the time
but the birds were late.

he had learned the truth
that the birds are never wrong.

this contradiction worried him.

could he be wrong?
or was it the birds?
what defect was this?

a defect in time, perhaps?
he accepted this.

he was correct,
the birds were correct,
but time was all askew.

he let the birds wake him
for the rest of his warranty.