They put me on a pedestal

Just to see me fall

They give me a thousand trophies

And I crush from the weight of them all

They sing me a thousand praises

To find something to pin on me

They place me in a house of glass

And they never let me be

I yell from my perch of worship

Roaring to be left alone

They shake their head with confusion

As if I should be glad that I am shown

They pull me up

Ju...

Strawberries grow

But robots to do not

Robots stay strong

But strawberries rot

Out of the two

Which one would I want?

A tasteful sweet treat

Or a steel, strong bot?

Or is it fine to stay

Just where I am

As a robot building human

Eating strawberry jam...

When I died, none of my friends were saddened—sorrow never truly touched their features, nor their hearts.

**HPD**

One cried, but it was just an act to them; a show; a part to play as the loving friend. They basked in the condolences of their audience.

_ V_**NPD**

One let themself frown sadly, their brows creased in dismay, because it was expe...

I stood above the world

Watching the ants go by

Wishing for something that

Would never be mine

Their love

Their sorrow

Their pain

Their joy

How I wish to have such things

How I wish to be held

To behold such wonders

And to be loved by such hearts

But I cannot—

Never shall I experience

Nor express

Emotions such as those

So I shall watch

They they shall be

Forever ants—forever

Held, beheld, and...

_Snap!_

The camera shutters

Its light blinding us momentarily

She stares at me, her jaw slack

I myself avert my gaze

Fiddling with the belt of my pants

Head titled her way

“Really?”

She asks.

“Why tell me?”

I shrug, then correct myself

“You’re the

Only one I know.”

She grins.

“They must be lucky then,

They really must.”

I smile as well and grab the photo

Of us grinning, cheeks smushed toget...

Step

Step

Step

You went away,

Taking away my laughter

And my joy

Run

Run

Run

Naive;

I asked you to stay

And dance to the evening sun

Step

Step

Step

The next time it happens

I do not fret;

I stand and watch you leave

Run

Run

Run

You’ve come back

But I no longer

Need you

Step

Step

Step

I walk away

No turning back now

You watch with tears in your eyes

Run

Run

Run

Into the night

Where I...

One day I saw a bird

Who fell out of its tree

Its mother didn’t notice

And its siblings let her be

I picked the fallen bird up

Rested it on its side

I noticed its broken wing

And knew it wanted to die

But I ignored that gleam

I put it between some bushes

I made it a home; a cap of water in it

And I only hoped nothing would push it

I returned the next hour

With my father in tow

But the bird was ...

With a jacket upon my form

I feel ever so safe

Blue, grey, red

Never white

My days continue

And my mind in flight

I feel shielded from the world

Walled from reality

With a turtleneck pulled to my chin

I can face all things

Even if I’m in a match

And the fighting bell rings

My parents urge me

To left go of my jackets

But to remove my jacket—

To remove my shell

I am left open to the elements...

It started with a seed

A little seed you gave to me

It was so small, so round in my hand

I could have never expected it to end

We planted it together

You and I

We watched it grow

And we planted more in rows

You smiled

And I didn’t

Your hands were full of hope

While, the darkness in me, I tried to cope

We sat together

You and I

Upon the swingset you built me

Where we could hold hands and watch ...

Cool fingers around my neck

Squeeze for an delightful sound

While cracking different kinds of bones

“Dear, dear

Sweety, I’m here,”

Trailing their fingers to my chest

Cool fingers surround my heart

Squeezing in glee at the watery sound

While my murky blood stains their mouth

“Dear, dear

Have a taste will you?”

They offer me their lips; I drink

Hot blood invades my throat

The taste, the sweet, m...