The Clock
Wonderland Challenge Day 2

Tick
the kettle boils
the toast goes cold
you blink.
your coffee?
stale.
a child laughs
somewhere down the hall
you miss it.
(you were scrolling...
again.)
Tock
your mother calls.
you silence the ring.
Later...
there’s always
tomorrow.
(right?)
...
until
there
isn’t.
Tick
birthday candles flicker
like flares
on a sinking ship.
everyone’s singing;
but you’re counting,
years wasted,
on being soft
for people
who only devour.
Tock
a wrinkle sets up shop
beside your eye,
a quiet tenant.
no deposit.
just rent paid in lost sleep
and comparison.
Tick
you fall in love,
like a leaf
into fire.
you wanted to be
slow.
careful.
but time
doesn’t
take
reservations.
Tock
the mirror forgets your name.
your reflection stutters.
who
are
you
when you’re not performing
for someone
else?
tick
tick
tick
you beg the moon
for an extension.
but even she
waxes.
and
wanes.
and disappears.
tock
tock
tock
You wake.
It’s
too early
or
too
late.
you can’t tell
anymore.
Tick
the clock
laughs.
and laughs.
and laughs.
Participant's Poems
About the Creator
Ellie Hoovs
Breathing life into the lost and broken. Writes to mend what fire couldn't destroy. Poetry stitched from ashes, longing, and stubborn hope.
My Poetry Collection DEMORTALIZING is out now!!!: https://a.co/d/5fqwmEb
Comments (16)
Another late one! https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/how-long-is-forever%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="w4qknv-Replies">.css-w4qknv-Replies{display:grid;gap:1.5rem;}
Here is my entry for Day 2 https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/the-traveler-who-never-stays%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
At last: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/cantankerous-clock%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Here is my entry for The clock: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/the-clock-7od1o0jl7%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Gee! I forgot to copy my entry here! 😳
Here is my take: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/riding-the-clock%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Extremely deep! Loved the entire poem and its format.
Wow deep! Love it, it gives me chills.
Well-wrought! Time is a measurement of motion through space. On what axel does it spin? Does it ever really end?
Hi Elli, Here is my interpretation: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/my-grandmother-s-clock-haiku%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Gee! The annoying tickling clock. 😂 I can’t stand those clocks. The sound. I think they are beautiful in design, I’m talking about the old, very old wooden clocks. Pure pieces of art. But the ticking sound? It drives me mad. And I hate the modern ones which are not even beautiful, just pieces of rubbish plastic at most. I loved the poem. It has the annoying combination of the tick tock marking the pass of the tyrant time. Great poem. Loving the challenge theme. 💕
I loved the imagery of "birthday candles like flares on a sinking ship"
Wow! Incredibly done! Such a cleverly composed consideration of time! The repetition of tick & tock was a smart touch
Blimey. No ticking clocks in my house, thanks!
This is so haunting and powerful. I love how you incorporate the tick and tock of the clock throughout the piece. It really sets the pace, and you can feel the desperation at the end.
Captivating and well written!!!