I’m in full-force editing mode right now, and I couldn’t quite drag myself away long enough this morning to write a new blog post. So I hope you’ll forgive me for sharing one of my old poems with you instead. This one was first published in the Wichita Falls Literature and Art Review, Volume IV, in winter of 2010. It was one of the first two poems I ever had published, and my mom still loves it because it reminds her of The Syncopated Clock. For those of you curious about poetic forms, this is a modified villanelle, similar to a stretched sonnet. Enjoy.
Digital Implications
The visual tick of my
digital clock, missing the old-fashioned
sound of a tick, makes me imagine
the sound of a tock.
Neon green lights blink around
the block, since the lightning
gave our starter a shock. The visual
tick of my digital
clock harkens back to when
all awoke to the cock crowing loudly,
an alarm gone rustic—making me
imagine the sound of a tock.
The numbers will say 12:00
for an epoch… or until I reset
its buttons that click.
The visual tick of
my digital clock anxiously
urges me not to talk, but to
listen to the silent air,
so thick—making me imagine
the sound of a tock. And though
time has passed, it’s still
twelve o’clock,
in spite of the flashing:
steady, rhythmic. The
visual tick of my digital clock
makes me imagine
the sound
of a tock.
© Annie Neugebauer, 2010.
All rights reserved.
I find this poem so fresh, unique, and clever – just like you!! And another true lover of poetry pointed out to me that it is evocative of The Syncopated Clock, with which I really agree:)
Ah! Thank you very much. =)
Agreed! Annie, you definitely have amazing talent.
Why thank you miss Nina!
Today’s poem! Thank you! #apoemadayin2012
Yay!
This brought a lot of memories for me . . . one of which was being woken at ungodly hours by our rooster back in Australia when we had chooks (Aussie for chickens).
Beautiful poem, Annie. I’m impressed that you know about, and can write in, the various forms. I’m not sure if I could write a poem at all, much less to stick to a form. So I will stick to enjoying yours!
Chooks, huh? That’s a new one for me; I like it! Thanks Milli. =)
I love this poem so much I had to go back and read it outloud!
=D That is just the best compliment I could hear! Thank you so much!
Agreed! This poem begs to be read out loud!
Thank you!
VERY Edgar Allen Poe! I love this. It is so pleasing to read aloud.Thanks for sharing your first published poetry with us!
Thank you!!