Tone is expressed in this poem by the shift in the young boys realization of time when he actually touches the clock. At the
beginning the author is very descriptive in what the boy is unaware of, and the symbolic meaning of the clock. Tobin is descriptive in the settings in which the boy will find himself once he
understands the true meaning of time and age. The tone is also very calm and
serene because it is proving the innocence of the boy and his ignorance to what
time actually stands for. However when he finally touches the clock the tone switches and we see the boy taking action because he is able to say that "he is older now".