The alarm clock rang: br 'so get up' sang br the peerless voice br in its lunar case; br br Answering my blow br with hitch and a beep br and a Tosca-like leap br to the floor, below br br where, nicking my foot, br it beat retreat br to a dusty zone br beyond the phone, br br still bleating 'ow! ' - br its expletive- br worse than any I could give. br br Up, now, br sitting in bed br I rubbed my head br br now made wise br to the ways br Time br br flies.