The Junk Man
The Junk Man - meaning Summary
Relief in Inevitable Endings
The poem likens Death to a kindly Junk Man who rescues worn-out clocks, using this simple extended metaphor to suggest relief in being allowed to leave a life that no longer functions. It presents death not as punishment but as release and practical care for the tired, reducing fear through domestic imagery. The tone is plain and consoling, inviting readers to see endings as a necessary, almost compassionate clearing away.
Read Complete AnalysesI am glad God saw Death And gave Death a job taking care of all who are tired of living: When all the wheels in a clock are worn and slow and the connections loose And the clock goes on ticking and telling the wrong time from hour to hour And people around the house joke about what a bum clock it is, How glad the clock is when the big Junk Man drives his wagon Up to the house and puts his arms around the clock and says: "You don't belong here, You gotta come Along with me," How glad the clock is then, when it feels the arms of the Junk Man close around it and carry it away.
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