I was a clock always on time,
          but under the surface
     I was winding down.

Till that finite cog cracked
      And my face became static.

I was now just an empty shell
                    with no time to tell.

Tik tok, tik tok
A clock counts down the days,
A mirror shows the wrinkles,
& the memories nearly fade.
Tik tok, tik tok
A pill shuts away the pain,
A doctor says a little longer,
& the grandkids keep away.
Tik tok, tik tok
A perfect life awaits,
A world forgetting ages,
& every worry dissipates.

I am aware, the mysterious clock within,
chimes in resonance with her heart's beating.
It keeps the time that really matters to us both,
The rest, day or night it be  is mere imagination.

i spend my days waiting
for the awakening
of these tides
inside my mind
i hope you don't mind

i depend my days
on my trembling feet
and shaking hands
gambling on what's to come
i hope to survive

i whimpered as
i have been trapped
i have been played
i have been manipulated
by myself and by the time itself

The clock chimes nine
A plan in motion

Life lived and left
Lost loves lie lit
and illuminated in
The lanterns of memory

The clock chimes ten
A decision decided

Friendship, both fresh and fought for
Forever lasting yet found
only in few and far between
fond places

The clock chimes eleven
An end draws near

Droughts of long done days
Do drift through the distant eyes
Of a dazzled dreamer
Dancing down the path

The clock chimes twelve
A goodbye has come

i'm sorry—
i'm not your youth
or the smiles that i shared with you
so long ago

i'm just another minute
on your weeping clock
shriveling up,
winding
down

It's a cool October morning
on campus
across the way children play
you see college students make their way from one class to another
living out these lives that vary from
one existence into another

meanwhile, children play
and all the way these adults
to some and not others
make their way
some pretending
some barely surviving
some ridicule the experience
some express gratitude
because it's all some of us really have
this chance
that one day a future worth living may arise

and then all the while, children play
see,
we all wish we could turn back this clock that
lays both in our existence and our imagination
this clock
that holds these memories
that tells us we're far
and then so near
in the blink of an eye
tells us there may be something to fear
because by chance
one in a few
may not make it

all the while children play
we reminisce about our time
we tell ourselves we wish to turn back to the simple moments
but the truth is
this clock lays partially into existence
so that we may think back
and grasp what we didn't at the time
so that we may act
in accordance
when it comes time

its a cool October morning
on campus
across the way children play
as I make my way

For each of the numbers printed on her face,
I counted each of them for every second that passed.
Three long arms that reached around eclipsing themselves.
One painted red in reflection of how fast my heart would beat.
Counting each mark that filled the gap of each bold number.
Counting down from the twelve o'clock hour. Reaching twelve again.
I fell in love. A continuing loop of numbers falling face forward then back around.
Seeing everything that I may have missed the first time around.
The sights already seen becoming more precious. Both of us together, close as breath.
A plastic case protecting us from hesitation, how long it would take to pass again.
The revolution of seconds it would take, orbiting my world for the millionth first time.
I didn't care that she painted her stars black and an infinite space around white.
For the first time this would be the closest that I would ever come to the ethereal experience
that I'd feel to be eternity.
For the millionth first time

tick tock goes a mind,
a mind so in love

tick tock goes the clock,
time rushing by.

tick tock,
nothing left
but a sad heart.