the tick-tock


the tick-tock is
a hot reminder:
everything has a deadline to meet,
every morning has traffic to beat.
the tick-tock is,
so unfair.
the tick-tock
is a dot
connector;
minute to year, heartbeat to breath,
the dot, dot, dot, between life and death.
the tick-tock is,
everywhere.
the tick-tock
is a spot
remover;
a spot of meaning here,
a spot of memory there.
the tick-tock is,
unaware.
the tick-tock
is a two-timer:
gives you all you'll ever have
then threatens to stop
and take all you ever had.
the tick-tock
does not care.

© Mark E. Dougherty