Active Machines
(Six Sentence Alliterative Interrogative Poem)
By Marlene Mesot
01/09/2025
The old-fashioned pressure cooker or the tea pot,
Squeal and whistle to announce “It’s hot,”
So do you see the steam,
And do you hear the machine?
Through the glass window of your oven or washing machine on the floor,
Through the peep hole in your front door,
Through the eye of your camera clicking free—
Do machines see?
When monstrous metal moving machines crash,
The sound jars crisp, crunch, clash,
As symbols sound, unmistakably unpoised—
Do machines make noise?
Machines wearing uniforms of Ambulance, Fire, Police,
Rush responsively along streets to preserve peace,
With sirens blaring in the wake of their trail—
Do machines wail?
Towering tanks pushing slowly ahead,
The crack of gunfire causing dread,
Arial bombings during the night—
Do machines fight?
Machines transport, entertain and work for us,
But do they ever put up a fuss,
And some machines help diagnose to heal,
Do machines feel?
Author Marlene Mesot
Marlene Mesot’s passion for mystery is reflected in her writing of contemporary Christian fiction and poetry. She shares her love of God, family, friendships and animals with her readers. She is legally blind and moderately deaf due to nerve damage at premature birth. Marlene has loved writing since early childhood.