A Necklace of Rope
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck one
There is a young man
Who did not feel so young
Who envied a clock the time it had
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck two
So he went out to find a tree
For his perfect clock
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck three
A thrice-muttered promise
Thrice-broken
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck four
Then he crafted himself a
Beautiful, shining necklace
Of rope
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck five
So he made himself a pendulum
Grander than any other
He used a material far more valuable than gold
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck six
Swinging back and forth
Gracefully
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck seven
A final breath
Sighing out of slowly closing lips
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck eight
A pair of feet
Dangling
Like apples from an overripe tree
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck nine
A silhouette
Highlighted against a
Bursting sunset
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck ten
Turning red like an overripe apple
Then purple, like a bursting grape
Then grey, like a heart long since dead
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck eleven
A single tear
Sliding gently down a cheek
'Tic Toc’'
The clock struck twelve.
