This Old Pocket Watch

This old Pocket Watch

In 1680, made in MaidaVale

If it could talk

What a tale it could tell

The old watchmaker

Slaved away all day

To bring to life his creation

This timepiece, by the end of the day

Sold to a merchant traveling

From Bath to Bristol

When he was held up

By Dick Turpin and his pistol

So the pocket watch found a new owner

For a number of years or so

Until the day that Dick Turpin was hanged

What a way to go

For a couple of centuries

It disappeared from view

But turned up in a auction in London

From whence it came no one knew

Bought by a London banker

As a present for his son

Who was that very morning

Leaving to fight for his country at Verdun

With the watch safely in his uniform pocket

It was carried over the ocean blue

To where our gallant soldier fell in battle

Just outside the town of Acentoo

The watch was found and brought back to England

And became a family heirloom

Passed down from son to son

As wealthy families do

Now the proud possession of the Earl of Wessex

A scholar and a man of note it’s true

And it still keeps perfect time

Considering all that it’s been through

So always remember

When you look at something really old and battered

What history it could contain and recant

If it could talk and say what really mattered