Week 3 of A-Z

I feel I must preface this Weeks theme with a small explanation. This will be five years since my mothers tragic death in a horrendous house fire, and this week would have been her birthday. I won't go into details here but there are many posts in the archives.all I can say is it still hurts but I know she's in a better place, rest in peace Mom.

Egress

You found that every bird's not snowy white
and now you're seeking refuge from your flight
for you were never counting on the curve
that innocence is what you can't preserve.


***I wrote this for the a-z for my bird theme but then checked and found out it isn't the term for a female egret - oh well, live and learn.***

Labor

We go through it to wind up here
then find out straight away
it's something we must constantly perform
for how else will we persevere
against the coming gray
from every future unpredicted storm

and sometimes though the days be long
when pain assails our backs
we find a way of finishing the task
it's not so much about being strong
but staving off attacks
of shadows that would steal our stints to bask.

Killing

Another person falls
beneath the dreaded spell
the corporation calls
in hopes of living well

beneath the dreaded spell
insinuating gold
in hopes of living well
another is controlled

insinuating gold
(the mound they guarantee)
another is controlled
a new retiree

the mound they guarantee
the corporation calls
a new retiree
another person falls.

Jumper

The path of least resistance may be fraught
with obstacles not easily perceived
especially by anyone distraught
from wondering how much can be believed
(a mission statement can't control ones mind)
there's nothing worse than manufactured truth
but everyday new models are designed
to euthanize the energy of youth.
Obedience has got to be instilled
with penalties for obstinacy stiff
in order for the highly structured hive
to satisfy the royalty and thrive
regardless who gets stranded on the cliff
or finally leaps, morosely unfulfilled.

Innards

"Number 37 report to my office immediately." said a nasally voice with a distinctively bitter edge to it. Barker Conroy was generally a cranky curmudgeon on most days, but today he was especially cross because the mag-lev train was down for routine maintenance and he had had to take the hover bus (or cattle car as he cheerfully called it) to work. It had added an extra half hour to his perfectly timed morning routine and he was ready to unleash on someone in a big way.

His thinning hair (which he hadn't gotten around to replacing yet) was severely combed over, and his pinched, agitated features made him look much older than the 47 he currently was. As the designated robot approached him he whirled to face it like a badger getting ready to defend it's den.

"37 I need all the samples from batch 4679-A tested and logged by the end of the day." he snapped then turned away which in his mind warranted dismissal. But he hadn't really given a direct order, just stated his need, so robot 37 stood stoically awaiting an actual command. Since the robot revolution of 2125, all mechanoids were constructed with just enough computing power to handle most menial tasks, but not enough to make the leap to artificial intelligence.

Barker knew all this but quickly spun his head to face the machine and almost hysterically screamed "That means do it NOW you mechanical monstrosity, NOW!" His face was approaching purple and small beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. The robot left to carry out his orders and Barker collapsed in his chair, closed his eyes and started taking deep breaths.

"Why must you be so cruel?" said a soft voice with a slightly midwestern accent. "You know they must be told exactly what to do." Reese Mulligan had only been at the company a few months but knew all he needed to know about Mr. Conroy. Fortunately the rotating shifts made their interactions occasional and brief but it just so happened that this day they were stuck together. Reese was young, fresh from school and having grown up in a fully mechanized society felt a soft spot for these automotons that performed the majority of the physical labor in the 22nd century. He fondly remembered Ma (short for machine) his nanny bot with AI, he had never met a better role model with more loyalty or integrity since.

"Listen, no flesh and bone inside means nothing to hurt, so get over it. Damn snotnose kid, who the hell you think you're talking to?"

Reese was incensed but in the spirit of a drama-free workplace he simply shook his head and got back to work. The rest of the day passed in tense silence and as the end of the day neared Barker was feeling better and said "Hey Reese, did you catch the game last night?" After a minute of silence he repeated his question but again got no answer. Then he remembered his statement and said "Hey you're not mad are ya? C'mon answer me, that's really rude. We're the humans, we need to stick together. You're really pissing me off!" Then he stopped for Reese was standing by his desk staring at him in such a way that he suddenly felt very small.

"Why won't you speak? I'm going to report to HR that you're creating a hostile work environment!"

Finally Reese spoke, his voice tinged with a mixture of contempt and pity, " Well I just keep thinking about what you told me back when I first started, how you had bad genes and had to get an artificial heart to keep living and it's like you said earlier - no flesh and bone inside means nothing to hurt. Good day Barker."

And much to Barker Conroy's chagrin his synthetic heart was pumping efficiently enough to fill his cheeks with a healthy flush.

Hardware

It's damn hardware
that's how our lot is viewed,
it's damn hard where
we work, as if the bosses care
their obnoxious attitude
is - be a slave if you want food -
it's damn hard wear.

Gear

What's the freaking use
my teeth are worn and loose
from all these many fruitless years
of physical abuse

but there's no point in tears
despite what now appears
to be a growing rift
between my wages and arrears

I see it as a gift
provoking me to lift
myself away from this morass
it's finally time to shift.

Wandering

I feel just like a juggernaut
who's jotting down his every thought
are you ready for the onslaught

for my fancies are untameable
and gnaw with need unnameable
a horde that's less than amiable

determined to abscond
with the hearts of any that respond
while leaving me a vagabond.

Firebird

He plucked it like a maniac
and played it like a saint
his patented guitar attack
could make the fragile faint
with attitude and frizzy hair
his talent was beyond compare

another grey ghost drifting
through tall and lonely pines
the morning fog is lifting
a fresh spring sun intensely shines
and though this free bird had to fly
he blazed a trail across the sky.


***Dedicated to Allen Collins, one of the founding members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Gibson Firebird was one of his favorite guitars to play. I tried to get a pic to post but for some damn reason it's not working. I will post it if I can at some point. Well this ends week one of A-Z and if you didn't figure it out it was birds for titles, poems not about birds. Also on a larger scale the whole thing was of course a tribute to the challenge's founder Arlee Bird. I guess you could say it's my way of um giving the uh bird to um Mr. Bird. Hmmm sounded much better in my head ;-) what's up for next week, tune in to see, bye for now.***

Eagle

I've never thought I'd be among the Masters
or even have a chance to be a star
but barring any unforeseen disasters
at least allow this duffer to hit par.

Duck

"When feathers fly it's better to lay low."
is something that a chicken once advised
but then a rooster told me "You should crow!"
and I don't know which statement should be prized

it doesn't take an eagle eye to see
when feathers fly it's better to lay low
while those with pluck may find it hard to be
as docile as the other birds they know.

Our only chance to flee if roasting slow
is forging through the unforgiving fire
when feathers fly it's better to lay low
or cater your competitor's desire--

be wary as the wisest wizened owl
and gaze with piercing amber eyes aglow
remember that if facing something foul
when feathers fly it's better to lay low.

Coot

Down by the shore
an American one is frowning
his buoyancy is poor
in fact, he may be drowning
but youthful ones ignore
continually clowning--
the old are waiting at the brink
who cares how many sink?

Bantam

With a cocky strut
he rules the ring
best guard your gut
his punches sting

he isn't tall
but man he's dense
a small brick wall
with iron defense.

You think you're strong
well give it a go
it won't be long
we'll hear him crow.

Albatross

I'm not a person easily deterred
but maybe should have listened to the tame
who warned me that this journey was absurd

I should have been more cautious as they slurred
their epithets of ridicule and shame
but I'm not a person easily deterred

the call of distant shores is what I heard
and possibly a whispering of fame.
They warned me that this journey was absurd

that no one ever came back with a word
of brand new lands to seek and claim,
I'm not a person easily deterred

so laughed and told them "Rest assured,
expansion of the kingdom is my aim!"
They told me that this journey was absurd

but I set sail, regardless of the bird
that's following my vessel lost and lame
for I'm not a person easily deterred--
They warned me that this journey was absurd.