The Dying Wasp

She vibrates, a chassis minus shock absorption.
A painting, the nude descends a staircase,
rings of Saturn etched in a vacuum tube.
Or Eniac of twisted cords and switchboards.

She isn't programmed to see light beams
spraying through the trees,
nor silver bearings of morning dew.
There are no bees plunging like pistons 
in the flowers, no circuit board on the step.
She climbs the jamb as a bot returning to its task.
Monitors flicker as nanoseconds pass unnoticed,
but the galaxy ends at the lintel.

She's a child of Mir, suspended upside down 
in a universe where falling isn't death,
but the failure of electrodes. 
Then silent as a dead star she descends.
All drives cease functioning.
She is still as a scarab,
the light years casting sand dunes on sphinxes,
until legs spasm as though coding 
a final matrix for iron butterflies waiting to be born.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Chiri Avatar
December 22, 2019 at 2:51 PM
Dale congrats on your win!;)
Barden Avatar
January 3, 2019 at 9:28 PM
Superb write, Dale ... I know I've said it before, but can never say it enough - your work NEVER disappoints. There are a literal handful of people here who I am guaranteed a bounty whenever I click on a poem of theirs, and you're on that short list. This is extraordinary, and easily deserving of 1st place ... I won't refer to the N/A, other than to say it was clearly an oversight. Into my favs, and congrats on your win with this masterpiece of ambiguity and imagination. Blessings, my friend!
Cozart Avatar
January 4, 2019 at 8:27 AM
Thank you so much, Greg, you are too kind.
Faulkner Avatar
January 2, 2019 at 10:48 PM
I like the reference to the classic 'Nude' painting, the 'child of Mir' and the Sphinxes, eons of wisdom conveyed in this poignant write, Congratulations on your win!
Cozart Avatar
January 3, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Thanks, Michelle.
Carmack Avatar
January 2, 2019 at 8:46 PM
Thank you for sharing this in my contest.
Cozart Avatar
January 3, 2019 at 8:01 AM
Thank you, Rob.
Chan Avatar
June 8, 2017 at 7:18 PM
Nice poem, but what does "keying a last matrix, for iron butterflies, waiting to be born." mean?
Lawless Avatar
May 29, 2017 at 7:23 AM
that is one "slow down - back up - engage the synapses - and fall - into the depths of beauty". This got me from the title to the last lines....
Cozart Avatar
May 29, 2017 at 8:24 AM
Thanks, John!!
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace