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.

[VALORMORE DE PLUME]

interesting piece. The morose feel of the raven beckoning. A fancy for Edgar? Nicely done. I especially like the twist at the ending.

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Thank you very much my friend. I'm a much bigger fan of twists that I am of Poe. Although, I've read enough of him to understand that this definitely has some of his darker undertones. Glad you liked it.

[kduff0101]

Wow. This is terrific. It made my heart beat faster and faster as I was reading and you're terrific at rhyming...

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this!

[icelandicblue]

Time must always have a keeper no matter how maddening it may be. I enjoyed your rhyme, story and philosophical musings in this piece.

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Thank you very much for reading.

[Quill~]

There is a dark tone to this piece...it has a Hitchcock feel to it, which you have eerily depicted. I enjoyed the story slowly unfolding...gave me chills! Brilliant write! :)

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Thank you so much for taking the time to read it. I appreciate the kind words! Glad that you liked it.

[Traci]

This is the first piece of yours and I was quite impressed. I found this to be very well written, with great imagery. A good reminder that time is the most precious gift we have, and it truly "must always have a keeper". Great job, looking forward to reading more of your work.

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Wow, thank you for the kind words. I'll do what I can to write more often.

[Malette]

I like how the character's perspective of the clock continued throughout his life; when he discovers his own gray hair, yet he is so annoyed by the grandfather clock, and time itself.

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Thank you. I wanted to make it seem like he was so obsessed with the clock that he forgot about his own life.

[Aubrai]

I was caught by the part where he realized he's already graying hair. He hadn't noticed it before, the incessant tick-tock-ing was still the same. I dunno what, but something about this poem bothers me. Aging cannot be helped, can it? Every tick-tock counts and we can't just lay there and count.

Like time, this poem needs a keeper, too. So . . . I'll put it on my shelf. :)

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Haha. Thank you. I'm glad that you liked it. I worked really hard to make this poem what it was.

[Aubrai]

It's worth it! Keep on writing great poems.

[stars are far]

That was wow ..
I enjoyed this alot .. so amazing .. the idea of the time keeper is kind of queer to me .. but i loved this alot .. i would love to check your writings :)

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

[stars are far]

best time ;)

[Brenden Taylor]

Definitely channeling the Poe with this one. I like the end-rhymes (although some seem a little forced - something we're all guilty of from time to time). On the story, it gave me the shivers - the intended effect, I'm sure. However, I would have given more thought to burning the house down - anything more than just two lines. Great, but missed, opportunity for some great images there.

Overall, excellent write, but incomplete, imho.

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I appreciate it. I appreciate the criticisms. One of my favorite parts of writing is seeing what others say they would do differently. Weird I know.

[Sharon Kim]

This is fantastic. The rhythm is great and the repetition really works. I have a small clock in my house that tick, tocks. I don't hear it during the day, but during the quiet of night when my kids are asleep it is insistent, loud and relentless!

[Trevor Jay Bloodworth]

Haha. I'm glad that you liked it. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

[Sharon Kim]

You're welcome!