My Coping Machine

I have a coping machine
Its body is formed from a large series of interconnected tubes reaching from floor to ceiling
Copper and brass, I see a distorted image of myself looking back at me in the finely polished metal.
A red-handled lever sticks out from the machine at shoulder height
Three oval glass windows sit left of the lever

Life was hard today
I mourned for what I lost and may never have again
That double-edged blade, memories of better times
Ten thousand questions all asking the same thing
No answers to be found

I pull the lever attached to my coping machine
Humdrum clicking soon leads way to a cacophony of grinding gears and moving parts
Behind the oval glass three wheels covered in images spin too fast to be seen
When the symphony of whirling gizmos dies down, three images are repeated behind the glass
Three pink hats ending in a set bunny of ears

Time to watch Bob's Burgers
That old familiar family so supportive in a way yours never was
Neatly wrapped problems in thirty minute packages
Sit back as familiar voices and paradigm personalities pass the time
Feel your heartbeat calm to an acceptable pace

The next day will be hard as well
Spin the slots again and behold three matching images
Stacked barbells with a plot of free space
Push pull exert
You know you are just pushing your problems aside
But for a minute you can really breathe

Keep spinning
Go til the machine no longer hums because you know that is truly the end
Make it
Play a game; go hiking; visit friends; read a novel
Write a poem





Poetry by JuneCloud
Read 547 times
Written on 2018-04-22 at 22:37

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Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
Sorry I mean't coping machines :)
2018-04-27


Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
I enjoyed this. Bob's Burgers is a good show filled with subtle humour. I suppose we are all just copying machines.
2018-04-23



You've worked out the metaphor very well. I enjoyed many moments in this poem. I liked the Bob's Burgers stanza, even though I've never seen the show!
2018-04-23