The Pendulum

the pendulum

swings

sweeping aside

minutes of time

casually

oblivious of

its devastating

effect on me

swinging

swinging

to and fro

mocking me

taunting me

 

tick, tock

tick, tock

pendulum swings

inside the clock

 

ire builds

within me

the incessant

tick-tock

will not stop

sweat beads

upon my brow

heartbeat

in my ears

resounds

my fists clench                      

a futile attempt 

to preserve my

last

bit of sanity     

                   

tick, tock

tick, tock

pendulum swings

inside the clock 

 

 

I search the room

in a furor

before my mind’s

completely gone

the answer lies

in the mirror

something

there all along

I rise from my chair

and stand

my fists relax

my heart slows

what is this

within my hand?

only

for me to know

 

tick, tock

tick, tock

pendulum swings

inside the clock

 

its bravery

on loan

from glass

it lives behind

in which my face

is shown

can’t fool

my clever mind

I savor the moment

breathing deep

tonight my mind

will at last know sleep

 

tick, tock

tick, tock

pendulum swings

inside the clock

 

the pendulum swings

my hammer is swung

the glass is shattered

and silence is won

 

Reviews

[~ Tex]

Ah, the ancient Taiwanese Tick Tock Torture Technique; distant cousin of the Chinese Water Torture, but much less messy and certainly doesn't waste valuable water resources! LOL

I've always loved Poe, so this sounds very much like Poe and I think old Edgar Allan would appreciate this write too. In fact, he had a short story entitled The Pit and The Pendulum... so his penchant for the dark and repetitive would surely draw him to read and applaud your piece.

[Wolfwind Words]

At First i thought it was someone taking a test in school, the sense of time and anxiety. Yet as i read on, i realized that it was a test in life, or lifes journey and the test we go though. We race against time to try and find our perfect self and our perfect place before we age into dust. Time beats down on us everso more each day. The tic toc of the clock an ever present reminder of that.
I believe when we embrace our lives, and live them to the fullest we can. We are able to slow that clock down, or at least quiet it. :)
Wonderful work!

[Kelly Scheppers]

Your caliber of talent is showing! I am in awe, and putting this in my library to read and read again!

[Forest Green]

A work of near perfection. I believe this poem reveals so much of the skills of the writer.

'...its bravery on loan from glass...' this stanza was wonderful. I would love to have this in my very choosy collection. Once I figure out how...this one will go on my favorites list.

Thanks for your work, very much.

Forest

[Snow White Queen]

Very good.

[SM Davis]

Well done. Perfect in imagery and form. I felt your frustration as I continued to read on. Nice read.

[James Mayfield]

I loved the rythym of this. The work reminds of Poe but stands totaly original in it's own right. Beautiful work.

[James Watts]

Very nice work and well written. I enjoyed this and I thank you for sending it my way.

[Gary H]

Really cool poem. Enjoyed the concept of the play with time, taking it from the world moving round to just hands moving and the constant 'tick, tick...' Liked the structure and the finality of the ending.

Great work.

[desertraven]

That was cool! well written!
Sandra♥