The clock strikes eight He rises at nine The world won't wait For a man behind time His bread is cold His coffee too Every story told Before he breaks through He missed the birth He missed the wake What is life worth When you're always late He runs to the train It pulls from the dock He prays in the rain To a fast-moving clock Love waited once Then packed up and left Only a dunce Waits for the bereft He'll catch up soon He swears on his life But the afternoon Becomes midnight's knife.