My clock is posed haughtily.

His face upturned in mockery

whispering obnoxiously:

“Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock”

I sit there dazed;

idle gazed;

face unfazed;

eyes are glazed,

lost within the twisting maze

of fear,

of tears,

of doubt,

of hope,

to cope 

with my racecar mind

with a million thoughts at a time…

Time!

What time is it?

I have much to do.

And suddenly it seems

like invisible hands

are pouring 

fear; foul fright

over my chocolate chest.

As it softens the shell

of my glistening spark,

and burns through the hollow spot

that holds my fragile heart 

door unlocked,

foul rain is

pouring down,

It pricks my spark,

I spiral down

Spiraling senseless 

in endless abundance

Leg bobbing; heart pulsing

Teeth grating; breath shaking

Knuckles cracking; voices cackling!

Wait!

What about that single mother

who rented a stale room upstate?

With mustard stained halls;

with rodents in the walls.

Kids run to school

in their sunken, shabby shoes.

She can barely pay her rent,

And she’s tired

And she’s hungry

And she’s angry

And she’s lonely

But she doesn’t wallow in self-pity

I’m privileged so my problems

don’t have any validity.

“Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock”

Nonetheless

I have much to do,

so I sit here in my stagnant stress,

wondering if I’ll get through