The Keeper of Time

Time never stops and we often forget that its there at all. It can preoccupy us or it can vanish completely.

The pendulum waved on my dear grandfather clock.

It spoke its usual, fair and timeless words, “tick-tock.”

It housed it’s pendulum inside its glass womb.

It was tall and tense looking, like an ancient tomb.

Hearing it brought me fear and apprehension.

Louder it ticked and tocked in dark tension.

“Quiet now for I am trying to go to sleep!”

Tick tock, tick tock, it was almost a weep.

My dear grandfather clock simply was and will be.

Nothing can stop its time, nothing, you will see.

 

Tick tock, tick tock, it just wouldn't stop at all!

It was speaking in its uniquely steady call.

Tall, brooding, and sulking, look at it there.

It called to me, but I was simply unaware.

Oaken all over, with twisting carves in its sides.

The gold decorated it like rolling ocean tides.

Still it grew louder, even at this quiet hour.

It had something, some mystical power.

I could not sleep, no matter how hard I tried.

Tick tock, tick tock, I could have almost cried.

 

Again I could hear the ticking, its own dark calling.

It spoke again, just as into sleep I was falling.

Tick tock, tick tock, I could not escape the sound.

Again, why did this clock not need to be wound?

I haven’t heard the bells in what felt like ages.

Surely this clock must have sounding stages?

I began to fear, loathe, tremble and despair.

But when did this gray get in to my hair?

“I do not understand you, why do you call?”

Tick tock, tick tock, nothing, and nothing at all.

 

The pendulum waved on my dear grandfather clock.

It spoke its dark, maddening and timely works “tick-tock.”

“That’s it! I’ll burn you down to the ground!”

It just stared, not making any other sound.

The fire had started; the entire house began to burn.

It was done now, no need for any more concern.

But what is this, I cannot even make sense!

It was still there, dark, oaken, and tense.

“What are you, foul demon, the grim reaper?”

“No, friend, time must always have a keeper.”

Reviews

[naznaz]

Hi!

This is a really amazing piece of work!

I love these sort of peculiar poems, and I think the speech used within the poem was a really good addition, as it really enhanced a very good poem, to an amazing one!

The end two lines are perhaps my most favourite and overall I loved all the maddening tick-tock-ing.

I have no criticisms.

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Wow. I honestly don't know what to say. Thank you so much. Really. Thank you.

[Sharon L.H. Kelly]

WOW! Excellent...I especially like the line "It housed its' pendulum inside its glass womb." This is a publishing piece of work.

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

That line took me a little while to come up with. Glad that you liked it. You're too kind.

[Keith]

Awesome piece, mysterious with an unexpected ending. The rythm reflected the theme, great work! Hope to see more.

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Thank you very much. I'm working on more as we speak.

[shallimarRose]

Welcome to the Cafe' Trevor.. This felt very intense.. I could feel the heart pounding with the ticking of the clock as it grew louder in the darkness of night.... I think it is about aging more then about a clock.. There is an old song.. "my grandfaters clock was too large for the shelf" As I read on I thought of that old song..

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

That was almost -exactly- what I was going for in this. The sense of time and how we can lose it. The clock is a representation: no matter how big the clock, we still lose track of time. Thanks for the welcome.

[shallimarRose]

Loved it.. After I left last night I went and listened to Burl Ives sing "grandfathers clock" .. Nice to have you here.. shallimar

[K-mo]

Wow! This gives me goosebumps!!! I love the mysteriousness in this piece and you are great with the details, I just loved it so much!!!

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Thank you very much!

[K-mo]

no problem, it was very good:)