up down side up down side
my fingers trace the familiar pattern on my desk as the clock
ticks ticks ticks ticks
up down side tick tick up down side tick tick
i tilt my head to the gray blanket outside filling the glass with puffy bits of white
tick up down tick side up tick
my eyes flick to the clock and back down to my desk. i pick up my foot and
tap tap tap tap
tick up down tap tick side up tap
i bring the wood of my pencil down on the cold metal desk
clang clang clang clang
tick up clang down tap tick side clang up tap
the sounds envelop me and i am in a bubble of noise that is nowhere near popping
tick up clang down tap tick side clang up tap
i close my eyes to the rhythm and the beat and just let the
tick up clang down tap tick side clang up tap
a shadow passes over the clock and i urge the melody faster
tick up clang down tap clang tick side clang up tap clang
faster
tick up clang down tap clang side tick up clang down tap clang side
and faster still until the door slices open the room cutting the overwhelming music into a momentary silence

tick tick tick tick
and all that's left is the clock
ticks
and the desk under my fingers
up down side
up down side
down