Clockwise

I’m your bedside mate.
And I’ll let you all
into a secret.
If my quartz crystal
didn’t oscillate
to tune my pulse rate
to ticking tempo,
you’ll surely be late.

But I say nothing.
Just sit in my place
as squat as a toad
and keep a straight face,
pointing to time’s road.
Tomorrow at dawn,
I’m set to alarm.
May your dreams be deep
when I steal your sleep.