Ticker Tape Machine

I sit here in my little glass dome
Peering out at the tape I’ve thrown
I gaze at the people as they scrutinize me
Some wear frowns, others exhibit glee
My motor grinds away like gnashing of teeth
As the paper advances from underneath
With the clacking sound of an Underwood
Numbers appear where emptiness once stood
My productivity is on the verge of disaster
So I use abbreviations to make it seem faster
The letters and numbers mean little to me
But they seem quite vital to those straining to see
I hum right along uttering hardly a sigh
Devouring the paper as the hours tick by
As the closing bell rings at the end of the day
I abruptly stop with nothing more to say

——

Linked to dVerse Poets Pub — MTB: Personification & Imagery

The Challenge: Write a poem utilizing either Personification (giving human characteristics to objects, animals, or ideas) or Imagery (appealing to the senses). If you want to combined these poetic devices in one poem, its also okay.

21 thoughts on “Ticker Tape Machine”

  1. Beverly Crawford

    Perfect cadence and rhyme, this carries one along enjoying the wit and word usage. Rhyming poetry is my first love, and this is a perfect example. Bravo!

  2. This is so very well done from the point of view of the ticker tape machine (or any office worker, can attest). The hours tick by, like the hours at work. Thanks for joining in.

    1. I owned an investment advisory for years. Never saw one in real action – just this picture on my wall, some miniature non-functional ones I gave as gifts, and museum pieces.

  3. I love that you found dVerse Poets Pub. I miss participating there, but I just don’t have time to read all the other poems linked. I feel guilty if I leave a link and don’t read others.

    And this poem made me smile.

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