Monday, November 10, 2025

Honorable Mention: youth

The Toledo City Paper depends on readers like you! Become a friend today. See membership options

time was invented by man, so
dismantle his pendulum;
until clocks crack under the weight of your teeth,
until minutes bounce backwards and
backwards and
backwards,
until mistakes are victories and every
hesitation is a declaration against her
cheek
(so pink in its youth—
not pale,
not pruned, not
hollowed in its last suction for air).
time was invented by man, but
his pendulum is too heavy to hold,
every crank of its gears another second
lost, the trepidation
until the countdown completes itself,
until the room is full of
tik-tok tik-tok
tik—————.

The Toledo City Paper depends on readers like you! Become a friend today. See membership options

time was invented by man, so
dismantle his pendulum;
until clocks crack under the weight of your teeth,
until minutes bounce backwards and
backwards and
backwards,
until mistakes are victories and every
hesitation is a declaration against her
cheek
(so pink in its youth—
not pale,
not pruned, not
hollowed in its last suction for air).
time was invented by man, but
his pendulum is too heavy to hold,
every crank of its gears another second
lost, the trepidation
until the countdown completes itself,
until the room is full of
tik-tok tik-tok
tik—————.

Recent Articles

Our Latest Digital Issue

Toledo City Paper
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.