As is her daily habit
my Roomba dutifully began
her rounds this morning
in a random search to sate
her humble appetite
with crumbs from last night
that even the dog left behind –
a meal I’d long believed
she was humbly grateful for –
her manna from the gods
 
Because the spring air
was so inviting
I had left the door ajar
before leaving Rosie –
as she is named –
to her morning rounds
 
After a cup of coffee or two
I noticed that I no longer heard
Rosie’s familiar hum –
a tune I long took as her
taking pleasure at her daily task
 
Figuring she had lost her way
beneath the sofa I signaled
her home with the remote
but there was no reply
 
Rising to shut the door
I caught sight of her
tooling down the street
freewheeling her way
To freedom
 
Watching her pace away
I began to wonder
whether she wished
to escape her drudgery
or perhaps to clean
the mess we have made
of this once upon a world
that once took care of itself
 
After watching her
turn the corner and
disappear from view
I realized that
whatever her choice
she probably knew
better than me
what was best
and so I closed the door

© by Randy Cadenhead.
Used with the author’s permission.