robot draft

robot stretches out
runs through his circuits
feeling for sleep

lights play
across his shell
dance like tension tics--
a humming through subcutaneous
membranes--

he is cavern
carapace, plastron

flashing crystal
pool of black within
rigid, liquid
sol/gel
lights going off/on
everywhere voices

animal sounds (something is coming
through) as though his circuitry
is looping
he feeds

choral music
into his night
(grunts
bird calls that come
of their own volition)
music to heal and soften

Christ, he thinks
I'm stiff as a damn board

stiffasadamnboard!


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