THE ROBOT by Michael Mack

upon the stairway of despair,
complete with broken love affairs
and promises that never came,
but faded with a touch of shame,
a pretty girl with golden hair
and innocence so sadly rare,
strove to keep her head above
a way of life devoid of love.

feeling pinned against life's wall,
she chanced upon a robot tall
and said, "please come and share with me
whatever fate has deemed to be.
im through with love, done with chances
spirit crushed by past romances,
just be a friend in word and deed.
thats all tht i shall ever need."

"there's not too much from me to learn,"
remarked the robot, in return.
"emotions do not form a part
of my cold, solid-steel heart.
whatever maker fashioned me
did not permit my circuitry
responsiveness to love or pain
your thoughts for me would be in vain."

"no matter", spoke the maid. "no more
do i wish passion to explore.
be someone i can come home to
when my exhausting day is through.
count yourself a well-worn shoe
a friend that i can slip into
protection from a stone cold floor
for this i ask and nothing more."

agreement made, he took her hand
and lived the life that she had planned,
always willing, not demanding,
aiding her with understanding
he made her smile with humourous wit
as his restrictions would permit
and, bit by bit, she came to feel
that he was more than iron and steel.

"i love you, robot", she at last
replied when several months had passed.
"your strength and quiet dignity
have brought a wondrous change in me.
no more do i feel all alone,
and pray you must be flesh and bone.
deep-set emotions you MUST feel
within that outer coat of steel!"

"if i were able, i would say
im sorry i was made this way
but my design and programmation
does not provide for that creation
of feelings normal men may feel
that were not born of iron and steel.
i told you all this once before.
you have no right expecting more."

"go then!" cried she. "i will not live
beside a fiend who cannot give!
though i be battered by misuse,
misguided trust and strong abuse,
at least the men i chose were real
and had the power to love and feel.
of all the lovers i recall,
you are the cruelest one of all!"

the robot, indestructible,
continues freely and at will.
emotionless, apparently,
but, bearing closer scrutiny,
one can see a small tear streak
down that cold, metallic cheek
as i reflect upon my life
that lovely lady was my wife.

that robot, of course, was me.