Popcorn

It broke again
Burned brown seeds
and melted butter
oozing sunflower colors
leaving stains on the floor
I stood there surprised
feeling confused and slightly amazed
The button was red --
should it have been green?
My checklist became a haze
It was the messiest sight I'd ever seen!
I couldn't remember
who shut the door last
Yellow spots and popcorn dots
peppered patterns along the glass
The noise was annoying
beyond any repair
it kept popping like a tin man
punching his own heart
and hitting empty air
The smell was stale
and distracted me from cleaning
my eyes were tears
from salt in my wounds
and my patience was weaning
Trash it! I thought angrily
Dump it all into the box
Haul it to the curb --
Let someone take it away!
Buy a new one
justify the loss ---
Impatient from the chaos
that had practically ruined the night
Turning back to the kernels
scattered randomly
and the broken machine inside
I grabbed the broom
to sweep it clean again
while hiding my lonely sigh