Machine Rain (Malaina White - New Iberia, LA)

 

rust

the winding down

of a vintage automobile

the slow aging

of a breathtaking beauty

I could cry

the salt tears

of a woman

but my body may melt

the hesitant silencing

of a brilliant concerto

the languid violence

of a sadistic rainstorm

I could laugh

the sardonic melody

of a man

but my gears may freeze

the painful lull

of a shrinking wave

the shy intensity

of a surreal sunset

I could scream

the jovial cheer

of a child

but my paint may crack

a machine's monotony

of callous days

is infinitely more threatening

than that of a human

to be a machine

and hear the rhythmic

clicking of gears

replacing the banality

of breathing

no hurting

no worrying

no remorse

to be a machine

out in the rain

of mortal tears

no death

not me