machine

by joel - Taurus

Machine
 
who was my father
before he was a failure?
who was my mother
before she was swallowed
whole by fear?
 
the world is a machine
built for 
breaking people
 
there used to be an old picture
of pops in his navy suit
hanging on the living room wall-
his smile crisp and bright,
like the perfect salute.
 
no one called Anna
for three weeks after
he died.
his son tried to mask
the smell of pops dying
with roach insecticide.
 
the world is a machine
built for 
breaking people
 
after three raid bombs
failed he set the house
on fire 
 
late that night
someone whispered
"the world is a machine
grinding to a halt"
and he could take 
no more of it.
 
just before sun up
he stole pops old car
and drove it back to 
oklahoma.
Birth sign: Taurus
Date created: 2002-08-08 19:37:48
Last updated: 2021-03-03 14:46:33
Poem ID: 69813

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