Tick Tock

A very personal poem about struggling with addiction

Tick Tock goes the clock of wanting to hit the pipe again

Tick Tock goes the clock of wanting to be numb again

Tick Tock goes the clock of the flame burning against the glass

Tick Tock goes the clock of the drug melting away

Tick Tock goes the clock of inhaling danger into my lungs

Tick Tock goes the clock of exhaling the smoke

Tick Tock goes the clock of the high warming my body

Tick Tock goes the clock of desperately wanting more

Tick Tock goes the clock of crushing more danger

Tick Tock goes the clock of rolling the dollar bill

Tick Tock goes the clock of snorting away my problems

Tick Tock goes the clock of a rush of euphoria

Tick Tock goes the clock of redoing everything again

Tick Tock goes the clock of coming down again

Tick Tock goes the clock of endless sleepless nights

Tick Tock goes the clock of hearing my mother and father cry

Tick Tock goes the clock of the haunting silence in my room

Tick Tock goes the clock of my heart beating inside my chest

Tick Tock goes the clock of picking up the pen

Tick Tock goes the clock of the tear hitting the paper

Tick Tock goes the clock of wanting to be numb again

Tick Tock goes the clock of the trembling hands

Tick Tock goes the clock of folding the paper

Tick Tock goes the clock of whispering one last goodbye

Tick Tock goes the clock of me hanging in the belltower 

Author's Note

Please be nice as this is extremely personal for me

Reviews

[Lathen Griffiths]

There was a point beginning from the fourth verse where I felt the syllables were shorter on each sentence and become quicker/ racier which I really liked because, it also tied in with feeling of euphoria, that was very clever. I also liked the repetition at the beginning of each sentence and felt it drove the whole piece…
Not an easy write but done well.

Lathe

[Dominique]

Your writing is so visceral. Thank you for being open and letting people like me know that we're not alone. I don't have the bravery to be this honest anymore, but your words are inspiring to open up a little.

[shadrach hah]

Hi Sam, the emotion flows from beginning to end down each line of this piece on addiction and terrible consequences. I love your honesty and reality. The raw writing on your terrible subject. Hugs....Mike.

[barleygirl]

I'm not a fan of overly repetitious writing, which this feels like. All the parts beyond that repeating phrase are well-written & interesting & full of emotion. That big block of repetition drowns out the heart of your message for me. I would use one instance of the repeated phrase, one time per verse, for the first line, then let your other more intense & descriptive details flesh out the rest of each verse without any repeating within each verse. Just my opinion (((HUGS)))

[Chris Shaw]

An honest account which is also disturbing about addiction and the pain it causes to all involved. The ending leaves you shell shocked.

Well done, for getting it down in writing.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

horrible horrible addiction portrayed .. so glad you chose to write about it ... as creative writers we put a handle on things when we can write them down, i think ... at least that's the way it is for me .. the honesty and the repetition of the clock are the strong points in this one ... message crystal clear (no pun intended) ..seriously... the meth epidemic is stealing some of the best from our society ... cheap .. easy to get .. to make .. instantly addictive .. my heart goes out to all the brothers and sisters suffering so ... any addiction by definition is destructive .. blessing on you Sam ... be well .. stay well ... strong poem for me
E.
ps. love your name by the way :)

[John the Baptist]

If ever there was a graphic picture of addiction from the inside, this is it. The last verse is shattering.

[...]

For me this poem is more like running my own thoughts at my head. When I Chase something particular but it's already gone. This poem is full of emotional symbols and experienced. It's feel like great painting on white wall. It's moving and my mind can blow up right now.