40 responses to “Tick-Tock”

1. Hey Bjorn, this really heats up as it goes along. Agh. I hate to hear hst ticking. K.

2. I really love the flow of this poem, it reminds me of a tune filled with both mad and desperate thoughts and affirmations, like they are exchanging mater with each other, when the poem finishes I do not know should I feel like burning or be scared.

3. The last stanza strikes me as the cycle of life moving at ‘breakneck speed.’ Life moves WAY too fast…from flesh so tender to six feet under…as the kilns are ever fed!

4. nice progression of time feel given by the repetitive “tick tock”.

5. “wrinkled, faded, back to sender”—poignant line!

6. I too like back to sender – The ashes and clock ticking reminds me that our time here is ever fleeting, and we are all ending 6 feet under ~

7. I enjoyed the rhythm of your poem. It made me think of the kind of poem children recite to each other in the school yard.

8. tick-tock… one day we all get that return ticket… the father of a colleague at work is dying at the moment… it’s tough to be in that process

9. Cremation is the only sane solution for dealing with a corpse, a husk, so there’s that. But your piece resonated with me as Holocaust-themed, the ovens, the victims, the (SS) wolves; strange no one else jumped that imagery. thanks 4 stopping by my site early; always appreciate your support of my Cinemagenics.

10. Hi Bjorn. I’m entering a little after others, but I too thought of the Holocaust. The starving kilns, always hungry for the victims fed by the wolves. Odd contrasts of the passage of time as well – ashes vs. the always present thought of cherry blossoms on my part. How fleeting is our time here on earth. Both images of passing – tick tock, and the kilns.

11. Per usual, you send me on an educational adventure! And I am off…capsicum. Appreciate your portion, always and fave line:
    ” tick-tock let the flesh grow tender
    wrinkled, faded, back to sender”

12. Got the same vibe as Glenn from your reference to kilns and then ashes; but this poem speaks clearly of the destination that we all reach one day …

13. Clever manic write Björn – how that clock ticks with the madness of it all.
    Anna :o]

14. The cemetery can be a greatest place for perspective.. as now is so much longer.. than a dark box.. or ashen vase..:)

15. The “tick tock” carries you along relentlessly. I felt that I was part of the poem, destined for doom….yikes!

16. the clock is always ticking, and we never know when it will run out. i love the cadence of this, and also the way it doesn’t feel ominous.

17. Deep! powerful! and wow!!! I feel this in my heart…I love it!

18. I can hear you reading this, Bjorn – very characteristic of your own special voice… With Best Wishes

19. Repetition adds a very nice effect to your piece – but overall, is very very intense.

20. Loved this one Bjorn! The title captured my interest and the writing delivered. ” wrinkled, faded, back to sender” ain’t that the truth. We will all wrinkle, fade, and slender away….

21. now has all the time in the world

22. we race the clock, but it always, always wins –

23. I really felt the stress and pressure of time. Well done!

24. By the grace of God the brilliance achieved are eventually led to a final resting place without a choice of time and space but peacefully.

    Hank

25. At least we all age together – as one entertainer put it I’m not old, I’m getting older and so is everyone else.

26. Bjorn, this poem packs a hefty punch. I found the holocaust reference searing. Time is whizzing by at a frightening rate for me as well now.

27. I, too, saw the Holocaust reference and also, perhaps, a plea to let man come to a natural end in old age. Well done, Bjorn.

28. A dark and ominous poem, Bjorn – the repetition is very effective and rushed me right to the end – beautifully written

29. Morbidly true…the time keeps ticking away. I recently visited Yad Vashem holocaust museum in Israel…sad to know man would unwind another’s clock unnaturally.
    (note:wolf plural is “wolves”)

    • Oops – so true.. Will change plural,

30. This chasing tick-tock can’t be noticeable by person….if life fulfilled, we usually struck observing someone’s wind-off….

31. This is great. Love the sound throughout. The first stanza is my favorite.

32. Outstanding. Send back to the sender really tied up the essence of this poem.

33. Death. I should try to think about it more often. It brings humility and humanity to the fore.

    Thanks Bjorn.

34. And … so it goes … full circle. An amazing write that created a visual for me every step of the poem. This line – wrinkled, faded, back to sender – is my favorite. Great !!!!

35. brilliantly written as usual bjorn

36. After reading that, Bjorn, I don’t know if I want to be cremated or not. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne

37. Those tick-tocks: louder and faster with age. Some intense, visceral lines in this, skillfully imbued with the occasional droll quip (feed the starving kiln, let the flesh grow tender wrinkled, faded, back to sender and, of course, 6 feet under – the final bon mot). Very cleverly crafted.

38. What rhythm this has! I love it.

39. This is fairly deep and dark — just the way I like my poetry. Good work.

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