From Begin Again, by Ursula Orange:

[Anthropomorphized Clocks dept.]

Jane's alarm clock went off with such energy that it whirred itself right over the edge of the painted chest-of-drawers and clattered on to the floor. The shrill metallic ringing changed to a croaking rasp. Then silence. The clock lay on its back with its ugly moon face staring at the ceiling, ticking in an offensive and deliberate manner. Beyond pulling the bed-clothes of the divan bed a little further over her head Jane took absolutely no notice. The clock, its three tin legs sticking out sharply, continued to tick. It had the sulky and obstinate air of one who performs a duty, however unpleasant. with extreme thoroughness.