Ace

poem about my old typewriter

Crack of metal arms,
Click of dusty gears.
The rattle of creation
Fills the hot, stark white room.

 

Pages march across its gaping
jaws. Sweat sparkles
on keys that catch the sun
at the death of the day.

 

The musty scent is intoxicating.
Rhythmic tapping on the ribbon
makes the words sing
their black-and-white sorrows
to the waning red light.

 

The black steel time capsule
groans from decades of abuse.
Inspiration hides in its greasy innards.
Typewritten words are immortal.

Reviews

[Kaye]

It's almost chilling the power you give to your typewriter in this poem. Absolutely beautiful. I await the day you admit you are a poet. And a good one.

I would say that the poem seems to end a bit abruptly. The last line, "Typewritten words are immortal." clues the reader into what you are referring to in the poem, but, at least in my mind it seems to break the flow. It almost seems that you need another line on the idea of the "greasy innards" before you reviel the subject.

[Piper Sullivan]

Ah, this is gorgeous! You gave the typewriter an immense amount of characterization and momentum. Personification to the max. If you know anything about me, it's that I harbor an unnecessary fondness for machines and I have always noted that typewriters have this antique, complicated beauty to them that is absolutely demanding. I think you portrayed this in a wonderful way.

However, I have to agree with Kaye that the ending is a bit abrupt. To be honest, it seems a bit superfluous to me, because I knew the subject as soon as I read, "Pages march across its gaping / jaws. Sweat sparkles / on keys that catch the sun / at the death of the day." I think that final lines gives the slight mystery of the object away, and fast. The second to last verse, "Inspiration hides in its greasy innards," is by far my favorite line and for some reason, the final verse takes away from its glory. Otherwise this is great! Well done :)

[Brett Campaigne]

great descriptive force.

[Bluet_Belle]

I love this!

Wonderful imagery,

Beautiful words. I have never used one, but i have always wanted a type writer. It seems so much better than a computer, because its raw, i mean, with a computer, you have automatic spell check. You still get your imperfections on a tupewriter.