Poets logo

The Clock

Wonderland Challenge Day 2

By Ellie HoovsPublished 9 months ago Updated 8 months ago 1 min read

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

listperformance poetryRequest Feedbacksocial commentaryStream of Consciousnesssurreal poetryFree Verse

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

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments (16)

Sign in to comment
  • D.K. Shepard8 months ago

    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;}

  • Susan Fourtané 8 months ago

    Gee! I forgot to copy my entry here! 😳

  • Extremely deep! Loved the entire poem and its format.

  • L.I.E8 months ago

    Wow deep! Love it, it gives me chills.

  • C. Rommial Butler8 months ago

    Well-wrought! Time is a measurement of motion through space. On what axel does it spin? Does it ever really end?

  • Susan Fourtané 8 months ago

    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. 💕

  • Sandor Szabo9 months ago

    I loved the imagery of "birthday candles like flares on a sinking ship"

  • D.K. Shepard9 months ago

    Wow! Incredibly done! Such a cleverly composed consideration of time! The repetition of tick & tock was a smart touch

  • Rachel Deeming9 months ago

    Blimey. No ticking clocks in my house, thanks!

  • Alyssa Musso9 months ago

    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.

  • Rohitha Lanka9 months ago

    Captivating and well written!!!

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.